Apple begins installment plan for Chinese site

Apple Inc has begun allowing users of its Chinese website to pay in installments as the company looks for ways to make its iPhones and MacBook laptops more affordable in the country.

Payments can be made over a two-year period for purchases of 300 yuan ($48) or more, up to a limit of 30,000 yuan, Apple said on its Chinese site.

The installment plans require a credit card from China Merchants Bank Co, it said. Apple will let buyers split payments into 3, 6, 12, 18 or 24 installments, and choosing 12 or fewer installments carries no fee. A fee of 6.5 percent of the selling price will be charged for 18 installments, and 8.5 percent for 24 installments.