Microsoft revealed the changes made to its Windows Phone Store intended to target customers in the fast-growing Chinese market, including support for payments via Alipay.

The company described Alipay as “a very popular payment (with functionality similar to that in PayPal) in China with over 800 million registered accounts”.

It said that Windows Phone is “the first major smartphone OS” to support this payment method.

Aside from the Alipay support, Microsoft said that there is now a “sold by” field in an app download page, as well as the app publisher details.

This is because it is working with MSN China, Sina and Tencent to bring apps to consumers, and “so customers can ask questions or resolve issues related to the app purchases via local phone support”.

Finally, it said that Xbox games are now available for purchase in the Windows Phone Store in China.

These titles include Xbox leaderboards, avatars, achievements and “other features that Xbox gamers love”.