Facebook Inc (FB) In China Is Looming: Jessica Lessin

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) will likely be launching in China soon, Jessica Lessin of The Information tells CNBC in an interview.

The comment coming from Lessin comes after Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) was recently predicted to soon have more users than there are people in the world’s most populated country.

“I think it’s clear that there is some move coming. We’ve seen this company and Mark Zuckerberg lay the groundwork now for a number of years and I think things are really accelerating,” Lessin said.

She also noted of the Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) CEO’s recent trips to China. It has long been reported that Zuckerberg and his team are working closely with authorities of the Asian country to try and hash out a version of the world’s largest social media site for China.

Apart from possibly releasing a version of Facebook that’s compliant to Chinese law, Lessin said that information they have gathered point to the company also looking at launching different products in the country in order for them to enter that market.

Asked whether a certain product – either Facebook, WhatsApp or other Facebook properties such as Instagram – may be the key product the company has in mind for China, Lessin said that she thinks it will be a combination of products that the company has in store for China.

“It’s a multiproduct company and I think that they are going to use those tools to their disposal,” she said.

Lessin added that Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is a very patient company that takes a very long view which makes them more likely to come to China with a more pared-down product until they can launch a more daring product in the territory.

She also said that Zuckerberg and company may be interested in China not only for growth but because of the pool of talent in the country.

Stephen Mandel’s Lone Pine Capital owned about 8.64 million Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) shares by the end of the third quarter.