WeChat introduces in-store payment feature

WeChat's new function allows retailers to scan the codes to receive payments. (Photo: news.zj.com)

While Apple is using a special chip to facilitate mobile payments, Chinese Internet company Tencent is exploring mobile payments in another way.

Tencent has introduced in-store mobile payments in its popular app WeChat for nine retail chains across China, according to Pingwest.com.

Chinese WeChat users can now find a new "shua ka" or "Small Payment" feature inside the "Wallet" section of the app. Pressing the icon and entering one's password for WeChat payments will automatically generate a QR code or a barcode. Using that, one can make in-store payments in such places as Dairy Queen and supermarket chain One Plus One where the retailers can scan the code to accept payments.

The QR code or the barcode is updated every minute in an effort to enhance security, according to Pingwest.com.

WeChat's "Wallet" can be set up with one's bank account information.

There are 438 million monthly active WeChat users as of the second quarter of 2014, according to Statista.com.

RELATED: The nine retail chains are:

Dairy Queen (restaurant chain)

Guoda Pharmacies

Tianhong (department store chain)

Minsheng Baihuo (department store chain)

One Plus One (supermarket chain)

Lotus (supermarket chain)

Hao Linju (convenience store chain)

Guoda 365 (convenience store chain)

Aiyingshi (childcare chain)