Just a few weeks after China banned the use of American invite-only audio-chat app Clubhouse, Xiaomi has now decided to revive its defunct MiTalk instant messaging app with the aim of offering it as a local replacement.
Xiaomi decided to relaunch the app just eight days after it announced that it was shutting it down. Xiaomi said during that time that the app was shut down because of "changes in the business."
In its latest announcement, Xiaomi said that it has added new features to MiTalk, including an audio-only chat feature. Xiaomi relaunched the app as an audio-first social media chat app with features that are similar to those found in Clubhouse.
Xiaomi said that MiTalk was redesigned to cater to the needs of "professionals."
Through the app, users can "share insights" and join discussions inside voice-only chat rooms. Experts said that the features of the app work similar to Clubhouse, with users only allowed to speak after they are recognized by room moderators once they "raise a hand" during live discussions.
"The new MiTalk is an audio chat app for professionals. Here, you can listen to sharing and insights of professionals in various industries, and you can also 'raise your hand' to participate in the sharing," the app's official description reads.
Xiaomi originally launched MiTalk back in 2010 but the app never really took off in China. The app was overshadowed by the success of Tencent Holdings' WeChat, which has become the go-to online messaging app for Chinese users. MiTalk originally functioned like other instant messaging apps, allowing users to make video calls, audio calls, chat, and send files.
Since Clubhouse was banned in China, several local companies have been racing to replicate its meteoric success. Apps such as Two, developed by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, and Dizhua have been modified to include voice-only chat rooms.
Analysts said that Clubhouse's short-lived success in China may be difficult to replicate given the country's strict regulations for online content. Apps that can potentially become incubators of anti-government discussions are often targets of censorship.
Last month, Inke was forced to remove its Clubhouse-like app called Duihuaba. The company said that it removed the app to make "improvements."
