Apple is always rumored to be thinking about dipping its toe into different industries, but this newest one might make some degree of sense given the services Apple already offers. As an extension of Apple Pay, Apple is reportedly looking to break into the peer-to-peer payment systems. This would put Apple in a position to compete with existing services like Venmo or Square Cash.
Apple Pay officially launched in Spain this week, making it the latest European nation to accept Apple's contactless mobile payments service. It also comes shortly after similar debuts in Japan, New Zealand, and Russia. Using compatible iPhone models or an Apple Watch, Apple Pay will allow users to make fast and easy payments at 27 Spanish retailers simply by holding their device over an NFC terminal.
Samsung wants very much to compete with Apple Pay and Android Pay around the world. So much so that Samsung launched its own mobile payments service called Samsung Pay and had promised to launch its service in the UK in 2016. With the waning weeks of 2016 here, Samsung has now announced that it is pushing that UK launch back to 2017.
Giving Tuesday is coming up at the end of the month, and today Apple Pay is making it a little easier to donate. Apple announced today that Apply Pay now supports donations to non-profit charities, removing some barriers to contributing money. There's no waiting between the announcement and roll out, as Apple Pay's donation functionality is live from today.
In-app purchases are mostly used for things like getting extra features or unlocking additional game content, but imagine using it to purchase a car — and not just any car, but a historic Aston Martin priced at just over $1 million. That's exactly what happened in the UK this week, when local automobile auction house Coys of Kensington sold a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 within an app, completing what it says is the largest known in-app purchase, as well as the single largest Apple Pay transaction.
Staples now supports Apple Pay on the mobile web, allowing its customers to pay with Apple’s mobile payment system via their smartphone. Assuming they’re shopping on its “m.staples.com” website and using Safari, customers will be able to checkout using their iPhone’s Touch ID, skipping the usually extensive and cumbersome payment process. The mobile web support joins Apple Pay support both in Staples stores and through its iPhone app.
In early September we first got word that Apple Pay would be rolling out in Russia this fall. At the same time word surface that Apple Pay would also be coming to Japan and New Zealand this fall as well. As of today, Apple Pay has landed in Russia with cooperation from MasterCard and Sberbank.
Earlier this week iOS 10 began rolling out for Apple device users. With that updated OS also comes support for Apple Pay on the web, this new feature allows users to pay for purchases online using the payment service and Touch ID. With Apple now supporting payments on the web, many websites are adding in support for the technology.
At the big iPhone 7 event yesterday, Apple revealed that mobile payment system Apple Pay would finally be coming to Japan later this year. As was reported recently, the latest iPhones for the Japanese market will include support for Sony's FeliCa tap-to-pay technology, meaning Apple Pay will be compatible with the train and subway transit cards across the country, as well as with vending machines and retailers.
The iPhone's mobile payment system Apple Pay has expanded to many more countries and regions over the last year, but it has yet to make an official debut in Japan. That may soon be changing, however, as following last month's news about a future iPhone including Japan's domestic tap-to-pay technology comes word that a partnership with Sony may result in the Apple Pay service rolling out in the country in full.
Apple Pay is now available in France and Hong Kong, allowing Apple users in both countries to use the company’s mobile payment system. As with Apple Pay in other supported countries, those in France and Hong Kong can use certain banking cards to make payments using their Apple Watch or iPhone; in France, MasterCard and Visa debit cards can be used, while in Hong Kong some MasterCard and Visa payment cards are supported, as well as American Express credit cards.
ATMs are about to become a lot more convenient for iPhone users with Touch ID on their device. FIS and Payment Alliance International, two companies in the ATM market, have announced a partnership that will allow Apple's Touch ID to be used to make cardless withdrawals at over 70,000 ATM locations across the US, including gas stations, stores, restaurants, and shopping malls.
