Apple opens WeChat account

Apple Inc opened an official account on Tencent’s WeChat yesterday to tap China’s most popular social service with almost 1 billion users.

The move signals that the two tech giants, Apple and Tencent, have gradually resolved disputes and disagreements on WeChat’s “tipping” system and web applications.

WeChat has always encouraged its users to “tip” individuals, but Apple wanted a 30 percent cut of that revenue as part of its in-app purchase. Both sides have now shared a “mutual understanding” and will bring back the ‘tip’ function, media reports said, citing a senior executive of Tencent. 

Tencent has developed “small applications” as web-based apps on WeChat, which may allow users to enjoy services like taxi-hailing and food delivery without installing an iOS app through Apple’s App Store.

As one of its most important regional markets, Apple has expanded its presence in China. Its iCloud services in China will be operated by a domestic firm from next month. The company said earlier that it would invest in research centers in Shanghai and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province.