<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"In 2013, wildly popular Chinese messaging service WeChat (users in China get a version known as Weixin) expanded its services and progressed toward becoming a platform -- notably incorporating payment services.\r\n\r\nNow China's version of Twitter, Sina Weibo, is also taking the same route as it seeks to capture eyeballs and sustain its user growth.\u00A0The latest update to Sina Weibo's iOS app (hat/tip Tech in Asia) has introduced a feature known as 'Weibo Payment,' -- or termed 'Wallet' within the app, so &amp;quot;paying online is just a tap away.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHowever, there are no details yet as to how this would work yet, though it seems like this is a natural progression from\u00A0Sina Weibo's link with e-commerce giant Alibaba.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLast year,\u00A0the two teamed up to launch a \u201CWeibo-Taobao\u201D platform to make it easier for customers on Weibo to shop on e-commerce site\u00A0Taobao. The collaboration basically allowed users to buy products directly on the Twitter-like microblogging platform. A\u00A0new type of display for Taobao products was launched on Sina Weibo \u2014 a \u201Cname card\u201D of sorts showing more details instead of just a link to the listing, including pricing, store credit rating, and the popularity of the product. To make it even more convenient to purchase products from Taobao directly on Sina Weibo, a \u201CBuy\u201D button on the virtual card was also released.\r\n\r\nIt looks like the two companies are making it easier for users to click &amp;quot;Buy&amp;quot; directly within the Sina Weibo app, then move to pay right within the app as well. An\u00A0Android app update is likely to be rolled out in the near future to add in this payment feature as well.\r\n\r\nSina has experimented in the past with third-party payments. Chinese smartphone manufacturer\u00A0Xiaomi\u2019s\u00A0now\u00A0infamous flash deal\u00A0was conducted on Weibo using the then trial-only WeiboPay, and the company now has a 'Weibo Wallet' service -- which could very likely be linked to the payment feature on Sina Weibo.\r\n\r\nPreviously,\u00A0Sina already admitted that it believes\u00A0time spent on Weibo is down\u00A0because of competition from rival Tencent\u2019s WeChat\u00A0messaging service. It is therefore no surprise that the company wants to boost its app with other services as well -- but WeChat has already taken a huge step forward in this and Weibo has much to catch up with, though its link with Alibaba will no doubt stand it in good stead.\r\n\r\nHeadline image via Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/01/06/chinas-twitter-like-sina-weibo-now-lets-make-payments-via-ios-app/?fromcat=all&_escaped_fragment_=rCbcp>