WeChat Makes Push for Emerging Markets With New Nokia Asha App

China-made social messaging app WeChat is once again making a push for new users in emerging markets by launching a new version of the app for Nokia Asha phones. WeChat previously made an app for older Symbian phones, but this new Asha app is totally remade for Nokia’s budget devices.

WeChat already has 50 million users outside of China, and this new Asha app should help that in areas where sales of these sub-$100 “smartphones” (as Nokia insists they totally are) still prevail over proper smartphones like those running Google’s Android OS. It’ll also work for users of older Symbian S40 phones. In a similar move, Tencent’s WeChat launched on the legacy BlackBerry OS at the end of last year.

Being made for budget devices, the WeChat app for Asha doesn’t have the same features as the iOS or Android versions, and is missing voice and video calls. But the Asha iteration still has fun stuff like touch-to-talk messaging, group chats for up to 40 people, and image sharing.

Rival messaging app Line already has an Asha version of its own.

Nokia (HEL:NOK1V; NYSE:NOK) launched its Asha series of phones in October 2011 with an eye on its “next billion” customers in developing nations like India and across the African continent.