NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELUS Communications Inc. in partnership with Tencent have launched an exciting new option for Chinese tourists travelling to Canada and the United States. The new WeChat Go North America and WeChat Go Canada travelers SIM card will provide seamless coverage on 4G LTE data on the most reliable networks in North America.
The cards work with the WeChat Go Mini Program and allow users access to usage information, top-ups and billing options. WeChat Go users will also have access to complimentary Lingcod TV service – China’s premiere TV/Movie Streaming service.
“We are excited to work with Tencent to develop a solution that will enable Chinese travellers with access to a mobility solution across North America using TELUS’ global connectivity capabilities. This partnership allows us to tap into Tencent’s leading ‘WeChat’ communications and ecommerce platform that has grown to approximately one billion users,” said Fawad Shaikh, Global VP of Business Development for TELUS Partner Solutions. “Bringing new services to market with innovative partners like Tencent demonstrates our commitment to bring the best of TELUS to the rest of the world.”
Two versions available: WeChat Go North America and WeChat Go Canada
The WeChat Go North America (available now) can be used while travelling anywhere in Canada and the United States and comes with 5 GB of initial full speed LTE Data and unlimited access to WeChat GO Mini Program.
The WeChat Go Canada (scheduled to be released by November 2018) card comes with 3 GB of full speed LTE Data, unlimited access to WeChat Go Mini Program, 100 minutes of Canadian voice, 50 Mins of China voice and unlimited SMS.
Top-up options include: 7, 10, 15 or 25 days using the WeChat Go Mini Program.
North America has been one of the hottest destinations for Chinese travelers. Over 3.5 million Chinese tourists visited Canada and the United Stated in 2016 and that number is expected to rise to over 5 million by 2022.
Why use a Travellers SIM Card:
- Avoid roaming fees
- Guaranteed service while travelling – no issues with phone/sim compatability
- Convenient to buy in advance before you leave for travels – ‘蓝海旅游，蓝象旅游，同程， 途牛，卓一，上海棉花糖， 穷游， 海南航空, JD, Tmall, Taobao, 同程，马蜂窝.’
WeChat Go Travellers SIM Card exclusive features:
- Available via WeChat app and at many retailers in China
- Free access to Lingcod TV as part of the WeChat benefits
- Convenient and seamless service – buy the card and put in phone and it will work on arrival – no need to set up an account
- Avoid any roaming charges
- Support from WeChat in Mandarin
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is Canada’s fastest-growing national telecommunications company, with $13.8 billion of annual revenue and 13.1 million subscriber connections, including 9.0 million wireless subscribers, 1.8 million high-speed Internet subscribers, 1.3 million residential network access lines and 1.1 million TELUS TV customers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment, video and home security. TELUS is also Canada's largest healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers business process solutions around the globe.
In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed over $525 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered more than 8.7 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Created in 2005 by President and CEO Darren Entwistle, TELUS’ 13 Canadian community boards and 5 International boards have led the Company’s support of grassroots charities and have contributed more than $67 million in support of 6,283 local charitable projects, enriching the lives of more than 2 million children and youth, annually. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
Media relations
François Gaboury
(438) 862-5136
francois.gaboury@telus.com
About Tencent
Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. Our social products Weixin and QQ link our users to a rich digital content catalogue including games, video, music and books. Our proprietary targeting technology helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our infrastructure services including payment, security, cloud and artificial intelligence create differentiated offerings and support our partners’ business growth. Tencent invests heavily in people and innovation, enabling us to evolve with the Internet.
Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1998. Shares of Tencent (00700.HK) are traded on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Media Relations
Portia Huang portiahuang@tencent.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd770c20-23f8-4dd3-ad90-5bf210ec18dc