San Francisco (dpa) - Software company Oracle won the bidding for US operations of the TikTok social media platform, according to multiple US media outlets, in an agreement that seeks to prevent a TikTok ban by the Trump administration.

Oracle will be TikTok's "trusted tech partner" in a deal that is not expected to be an outright sale, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an anonymous source.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment on the reported deal with Oracle.

The reports came shortly after Microsoft - the only other bidder for TikTok's US operations - said that its bid for the social media platform was rejected by China-based ByteDance, TikTok's parent company.

"ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft," Microsoft said in a statement.

"We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests."

The app has become a key point in brewing tensions between the US and China

President Donald Trump, citing security concerns, issued an executive order that seeks to ban the app in mid September unless it is sold to a US company.

Earlier this week Trump said he will not issue an extension on the executive order. The order would ban any US-based financial transactions with TikTok.

Tens of millions of people in the US use TikTok, which allows users to create short videos - often with some basic effects and music.

The US military has already banned its use, citing security concerns. India has also banned the app amid a separate row with Beijing.

The status of the app is part of a wider trade war between the US and China which has increasingly spread to other areas of their relationship, notably over policy towards Hong Kong.