Apple launches an online store on China’s WeChat platform – News Block

Apple has expanded its presence in China by launching an online store on the popular Tencent-owned messaging app WeChat.

Here’s why WeChat is so popular and Trump is afraid of it

WeChat is the most popular mobile app and social media platform in China with nearly 1.2 billion active users. In this article we will tell you what WeChat means for the Chinese and what consequences a possible ban on apps in the United States can have.

WeChat has a user base of more than 1 billion people and offers more than just messaging services, providing live streaming, payment and e-commerce services. The app will host the Apple Store through one of its mini-programs: small apps hosted on WeChat.

Apple’s store within WeChat will offer its entire line of products, including the latest iPhone, iPad and Mac. Orders will be delivered free of charge, with the option for some users to pay for expedited three-hour delivery. Customers will also have access to additional Apple services, such as its trade-in program.

Analysts say WeChat ban could reduce iPhone sales

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts a 3-30% drop in iPhone sales, depending on the US President’s final decision on the WeChat ban.

Apple’s move comes as consumers in China are increasingly turning to social media platforms like WeChat and ByteDance to shop. Apple already operates a store on Alibaba’s Tmall, a major online marketplace, while China’s second-biggest online retailer, JD.com, is an official reseller of Apple products.

While China remains a vital market for Apple, the company has also been diversifying its production sources by moving some of its manufacturing to countries like India and Vietnam.