Apple Retail Stores in China to Accept Alipay Mobile Payments
In this article (5)
Apple China will accept Alipay in its stores – the first third-party mobile payment system to be accepted at any Apple store worldwide.
This follows lukewarm reception in China for Apple’s own payment system, says Reuters.
The IT giant will accept Alipay payments across its 41 brick-and-mortar retail stores in China, says Ant Financial, which runs the system for Alibaba.
Meanwhile, Apple China’s website, iTunes store and App Store have been accepting Alipay for more than a year.
Apple is shifting user data to China-based servers this month to meet local rules, and last year removed dozens of local and foreign VPN apps from its Chinese app store.
China’s official Xinhua news agency says Apple will build its second data centre in China, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, after setting up a data centre in Guizhou.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why has Apple chosen to accept Alipay now?
Why has Apple chosen to accept Alipay now?
This decision follows a lukewarm reception for Apple's own payment system in China. Accepting Alipay is a move to better integrate with the local market.
Q.Which Apple stores will accept Alipay payments?
Which Apple stores will accept Alipay payments?
Apple's 41 physical retail stores in China will accept Alipay. This is the first time any Apple store globally has accepted a third-party mobile payment system.
Q.Has Apple accepted Alipay in China before now?
Has Apple accepted Alipay in China before now?
Yes, Apple China's website, iTunes store, and App Store have been accepting Alipay for over a year. The new development is its acceptance in physical retail stores.
Q.What other steps is Apple taking to meet Chinese regulations?
What other steps is Apple taking to meet Chinese regulations?
Apple is shifting user data to China-based servers this month to meet local rules. It will also build a second data centre in Inner Mongolia, following one in Guizhou.
Reader pulse
Is Apple's Alipay integration a major shift?
15,841 votes so far