> For instance, I don't really see a need to have the same app do chat and payment (in fact, I'd prefer if they didn't).

You not seeing a need and them meeting one that clearly exists have nothing to do with each other.

> What about WeChat is particularly innovative, other than just bundling a lot of different functionality into one big app?

Making it actually work well enough for millions of people to use it. I can't think of anyone else who's succeeded at that and there are plenty that failed miserably to build that type of "kitchen sink" platform.

I used it quite a bit when I was in China for things other than messaging. Have to say it was a great experience, it works with literally EVERYTHING. You walk on the street - bam the bagger is using wechat QR code to ask for donation. A large number of normal people I encountered don't even use their wallets anymore - menu on wechat, mobile payment on wechat, taxi on wechat, utility on wechat. It's something that after using it, you know there's no way back.

WeChat is deeply integrated, the UI is excellent, it's fast and responsive even on low-end handsets. It's a 40MB APK that could well be the only app you need. WeChat is incredibly feature-dense, but it's also slick, efficient and highly usable. I don't like the monolithic app model, but WeChat have implemented it extraordinarily well.

Tencent are a phenomenal company that deserve far more respect in the west. The Chinese market may be distinctive, but WeChat's dominance of the Chinese market has come through innovation, clever design and good engineering.

We are discussing innovation and if you look at how much money change hands inside WeChat it is clear that it is getting ahead of whatsapp and facebook messenger by leaps and bounds.