Apple's challenge is getting China users to pay for apps

San Francisco

APPLE Inc has persuaded developers in China to write apps for the iPhone, helping make that country the largest market for downloads last quarter. The challenge now is getting Chinese users to pay for software.

While downloads of mobile applications in China outpaced those in the US in the recent period, the US still led in revenue, according to App Annie, a website that tracks mobile software. China - now the No 1 market for iPhones - ranked No 3 by revenue after Japan.

Chief executive officer Tim Cook will have the chance to encourage Chinese programmers and other software builders from around the world as more than 5,000 people gather next week at the company…