Foreign media: Apple will not remove WeChat from its app store, so Chinese consumers can buy iPhones with confidence

As we all know, this is not the first time that the Apple or WeChat choice problem has occurred. The first time was because of the WeChat public account reward issue. The funds did not go through Apple channels, and Apple believed that it violated the platform regulations. At first, WeChat removed the iOS user reward function, but in the end Apple reached a compromise with WeChat. Apple modified the AppStore regulations, requiring that all rewards must be given to content creators, and WeChat could not take a commission.

The second time was when WeChat launched mini-programs, which threatened the status of the AppStore. It was equivalent to building a new ecosystem within the Apple APP ecosystem, and it was not under the jurisdiction of Apple. In the end, Apple reached a compromise with WeChat. This year, Apple also launched App Clip, a function similar to WeChat mini-programs, at WWDC2020.

From the above content, we can see that Apple has long given special preferential treatment to WeChat, and has compromised again and again. Even Phillip Shoemaker, a former Apple executive, admitted that Apple gave WeChat a special exception, which is a treatment that no other application in the world has. If other applications dare to challenge Apple, Apple's attitude will be very tough. For example, Epic, the developer of "Fortnite", felt that the AppStore's commission was too high and wanted to challenge Apple. As a result, Apple directly removed "Fortnite" from the shelves and deactivated Epic's developer account.

The third time Apple or WeChat had to choose between the two was because Trump issued a ban some time ago, requiring that after 45 days, American individuals and companies would be prohibited from conducting any transactions related to WeChat with Tencent. This ban was interpreted by many domestic media as Apple's removal of WeChat. Many netizens said that if Apple dared to remove WeChat, then they would give up iPhone. This is not without reason. As a national application, WeChat has already penetrated into every aspect of our lives, and WeChat has 1.2 billion monthly active users. If I had to choose, I would definitely choose WeChat. After all, iPhone can be replaced by other mobile phones, but WeChat is almost impossible to be replaced. After all, Alibaba is so powerful, but it has not done it.

So when Trump issued this order, Apple was anxious. After all, the iPhone 12 series is about to be released. Without the support of Chinese consumers, how can the market value of up to 2 trillion US dollars be supported? For this reason, after the ban was issued, Apple took the lead and joined dozens of companies including Intel, Procter & Gamble, Ford, etc. to jointly express opposition to Trump's ban.

Now the situation seems to have taken a turn for the better. According to foreign media Bloomberg, Trump privately assured Apple and other companies that the WeChat ban would not affect their business in China. This means that Apple does not need to remove WeChat from its shelves, and friends who want to buy iPhone 12 do not have to worry about choosing between Apple and WeChat.