( CNN ) -- Tencent , the world 's third largest Internet company by market share , launched its popular instant messenger service in English , Japanese and French . The launch of QQi Instant Messenger is an international version of its Chinese QQ instant messaging services , which has 600 million subscribers -- the largest instant messaging subscriber base in the world . Versions in Korean , Spanish and German are planned to be released early next year , a company spokesperson said . Tencent is also planning the release of its first English language social networking site in early 2011 . Marc Violo , product manager for QQi , said the launch marks a tentative step toward bringing products from the hugely popular Chinese Internet company to an overseas audience . `` We have no intention of trying to compete with Skype or MSN instant messenger , '' Violo said . `` We 're looking to expand our reach outside of China to get involved with people who are interested in China . '' Already QQ has users in 212 countries , most of who come from the U.S. and Europe , Violo told CNN . Tencent has partnered with popular English-language web sites in China -- such as travel provider CTrip and state-run newspaper China Daily -- to draw more traffic from overseas consumers . `` And if you want to instant message someone living in China , you have access to 92 percent of the online population here , '' Violo said . The company is also working on a partnership with Canada-based StumbleUpon , a content discovery service company . QQi hopes to have `` between 7 and 10 million subscribers '' by September , Violo said . A beta version , released last year targeting expatriates living in China , has 2 million subscribers . Tencent is not the only Chinese Internet company with international ambitions . Baidu , China 's largest search engine , launched a search service in Japan several years ago . The company has plans to expand into other regions , including Latin America , the Middle East and Southeast Asia , according to Baidu spokesperson Kaiser Kuo . `` We are looking at markets where Google is not dominant , '' Kuo said . `` Our preference is for markets with languages that are not Latin-based , so we have a leg up there . '' In November , Baidu CEO Robin Li said he hoped that in 10 years , the Chinese search giant would become a household name in 50 percent of the world . With Chinese Internet companies ' plans to do business abroad also come challenges that analysts say they are unsure China 's domestic web giants will ultimately ever be able to overcome . The obstacles relate to the Internet censorship policies inside China that require companies to monitor and remove sensitive content from websites and block user behavior deemed inappropriate , political or otherwise . `` This is one of the key issues for all of these really rich Chinese Internet companies trying to go overseas , '' Bill Bishop , a Beijing-based independent media consultant , said . `` When they go into developing markets , it is one thing ( because ) there is a less sophisticated user base . When they go into the United States , they are carrying a huge amount of baggage and Google added a few tons to that baggage last year . '' Read more on Google in China . Companies , like Tencent , have no choice but to follow Chinese Internet law or be shut down . Tencent , for example , blocks chats or posts containing sensitive words from its servers . `` For sure , I think all of the chats are monitored by QQ , '' Lu Gang , co-founder of OpenWeb.Asia , a working group focusing on the Asian Internet industry . `` If you type in sensitive key words , the messaging will be blocked . I think more and more people realize the problem , but still no one will give up QQ because it is part of the Internet culture in China . If you are not using it , you will lose lots of contacts in your social life . '' Most recently the company was involved in a high profile dispute with Qihoo 360 , China 's largest antivirus software provider , which alleged Tencent was scanning private data of its more than 600 million users . Tencent denied the allegations . `` This whole Qihoo 360 case only raises people 's level of suspicion , '' Bill Bishop said . `` Tencent may feel it is a great company but what matters is if they can convince users they are safe and now that bar has been raised significantly . '' Violo said he believes this can be done . `` Most people do n't realize that QQ is a very large multinational that is listed on the stock exchange and has thousands of shareholders , '' the QQi project manager said . `` Everything needs to be transparent . Of course we are in China so the government can put pressure on the company , and of course we have to comply with certain subjects , which are sensible in China . But if you are not planning a coup d'état against the Chinese government using QQ , then QQ is a safe thing . '' CNN 's Kevin Voigt contributed to this report .
Tencent is a Chinese Internet company with a hugely popular instant messenger service . Around 90 % of China 's online users use it . Company will launch English , French and Japanese language versions . Some analysts doubt it will be as popular with Western social media users .