Apple has launched an online store in China on Tencent's WeChat messaging app, as the iPhone giant expands its retail channels in one of its most significant regions. Users can access "Mini Programmes," which are useful apps within WeChat. This means that instead of downloading a plethora of different apps, consumers may access all of the services they require directly from WeChat.
Apple's WeChat shop is available as a Mini Programme. With over 1.2 billion users, WeChat is China's largest messaging network. It is often referred to as a "super app" because it offers more than just instant messaging. Users can purchase the full line of Apple products including the latest iPhone 14 range through the Mini Program, Tencent said in a statement. Orders via WeChat are eligible for free shipping, and some users can pay for three-hour delivery.
Tencent said that customers can also access some other Apple services, like the trade-in program. Apple tightly controls its retail channels, but has been ramping up its presence on China’s biggest internet platforms over the past few years. Apple has an official store on Tmall, the e-commerce site operated by Alibaba. Meanwhile, JD.com, China’s second-largest online retailer, is an official reseller of Apple products.
Despite a difficult market overall, iPhone sales in China have remained quite resilient. According to Counterpoint Research, smartphone sales declined 5% year on year in the first quarter of 2023, marking the lowest first-quarter sales figure since 2014. According to Counterpoint, Apple's iPhone sales increased 6% year over year. Apple is still hunting for new customers. WeChat is widely used in Chinese society for everything from texting to booking flights and paying bills.
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