Samsung partners up with WeChat Pay for Note 8 in China

Samsung partners up with WeChat Pay for Note 8 in China. September. 15, 2017 07:46. by Sung-Gyu Kim sunggyu@donga.com.

Samsung Electronics is seeking to turn the tide of business in China with the launch of its new smartphone Galaxy Note 8.

The South Korean electronics giant held a ceremony on Wednesday at 798 Art Zone in Beijing, China, to showcase their latest smartphone model Galaxy Note 8 with some 900 officials from the local media outlets and business partners present. Ko Dong-jin, the head of Samsung Electronics’ Wireless Business Department, gave a keynote speech, saying that Samsung will “make a continued effort to earn trust and love from Chinese consumers based on our technological prowess." He called China “the most important market." The Galaxy Note 8 will be officially launched in China on September 29.

Samsung will also forge strategic alliance with WeChat Pay to expand their share in mobile payment market in China with its latest launch of the Galaxy Note 8.

Working in conjunction with the two largest payment companies of China, Samsung Electronics is aiming to allow Samsung Pay users an easy access to mobile payments in most shops and stores in China.

Additionally, Samsung is teaming up with Mobike, an up-and-coming bikes-sharing start-up in China. Users of the Galaxy Note 8 can ride Mobike bikes by scanning the QR codes and going through simple procedures.

Experts are paying attention to whether the Note 8 will serve as a turning point for Samsung to regain its footing in the Chinese market. The South Korean smartphone maker is yielding a single-digit market share in China with its latest flagship model Galaxy S8.

Samsung changed the head of its Chinese headquarters in March, and the company implemented a major overhaul in August on its business structure by integrating the branches located in seven different regions. The Galaxy Note 8 is the first model released since the restructuring, and it is likely to mark a watershed for Samsung’s business outlook in China.