Apple's online services support WeChat payment

Apple Inc’s online services support WeChat payment from today under a partnership between the US technology giant and Tencent, China’s top dot-com firm with almost 1 billion users.

Apple users can purchase apps and subscribe to online music by bundling App Store and WeChat payment accounts. In China, around 963 million people use WeChat, a popular instant message and picture sharing tool.

Apple will "continue to be committed to offering customers across its ecosystem a variety of payment options that are simple and convenient," the firm said in a statement.

The WeChat payment tie-up is expected to allow Apple to boost revenue from services, which may help the company to offset sales decline of iPhone and iPad in recent quarters in China, industry insiders said.

Apple has also increased investment in China by setting up new research centers, data centers and more Apple Stores, as well as appointing a new executive for China.