BEIJING: Chinese social media app WeChat is reportedly gaining popularity in Bhutan.

WeChat has become one of the popular social media apps among residents of Bhutan, reported China's state-run news agency Xinhua.

The app's "hold to talk service" gives an edge to it as the service is not just user-friendly but requires no ability to write, thereby making it popular among illiterates and semi-literates, the report said.

The instant messaging app not only comes with "hold to talk" feature but also has standard communication features like free calling, text messaging and video chat. All users have to do is select a contact, press the button, and speak.

According to the report, another reason which helps the Chinese social media giant earn the limelight is the fact that it does not require an excellent Internet connection.

One "could upload videos and photographs with slight network connection even from high mountains, said highlander Zangmo.

"WeChat" was introduced in 2011 and as per the record, it has now become one of the largest standalone messaging apps by monthly active users counting to be over 963 million monthly

Bhutan is one of the last countries to open to Internet services. It was only in 1999, that the country had access to the Internet, the report said.