From WeChat to Clubhouse: Xiaomi turns messaging app into social audio platform after shutting it down

Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi overhauled its defunct messaging app MiTalk, turning it into an invite-only audio chat platform for professionals. Since Clubhouse was banned in China, several similar apps have been vying to take its place, including Dizhua, Tiya and Two, backed by billionaire Justin Sun. — SCMP

Smartphone giant Xiaomi has revived its defunct instant messaging app MiTalk as a social audio chat platform for professionals, a move that comes weeks after Clubhouse was banned in China.

The app was relaunched just eight days after the company shut down the original MiTalk on Feb 19 “due to changes in the business”, according to the company’s announcement in January on the app’s official Weibo account. With another announcement on Saturday, MiTalk was reintroduced as an audio-first chat app with features that mirror those of Clubhouse, which briefly surged in popularity in China in the first week of February.