Alibaba testing mobile messaging app

New York -- Chinese online giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is testing a mobile messaging app designed to combine social networking with business.



The app, called DingTalk, is still in beta testing.



Capable of carrying conference calls and group messaging, DingTalk targets small- and medium-sized enterprises, many of which are already Alibaba's customers, according to Reuters.



But Alibaba's previous attempt at a mobile messaging app, Laiwang, is seen by many analysts and industry observers as a dud, with the Chinese market dominated by Tencent's WeChat.



"DingTalk is a versatile mobile communications app that fills a gap in the market for corporate mobile messaging," said the Alibaba spokeswoman in the report.