It’s an important day for the payment industry and actually, for every customer in the United Kingdom. Apple Pay is finally released today, following the initial launch in the United States in late October 2014. Once the system will go online, Apple Pay will be available to iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch users in the UK. This way, Apple Pay will allow customers to buy things by simply touching their smartphone or watch on a card reader, using Near Field Communication antenna technology (NFC).
How to use Apple Pay?
In order to use the service, customers will need to add their payment cards to their Apple account. For now, Apple Pay purchases are limited to £20, and it’s expected to rise in the autumn. Besides, the maximum charge for contactless payment cards is also £20 with plans of going up to £30 in September, so it’s likely the Apple Pay limit will be upgraded at the same time.
How safe is Apple Pay?
Apple says privacy and security is a key part of Apple Pay, and their service is far more secure than current payment methods – once the user has added a credit or a debit card to the device, the card numbers are never shared again. Also, the buyer uses the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, allowing the iPhone/iPad to identify him as the shopper, and adds a layer of biometric security. If the device is stolen the buyer can immediately revoke the ability to make payments using the Apple account via the iCloud website.
Who supports Apple Pay?
It’s also important to know that Apple Pay will be supported by almost all the major banks and credit card companies, including American Express, First Direct, HSBC, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, and Ulster Bank. Some of the other banks that are expected to support Apple Pay later this year are Bank of Scotland, Halifax, M&S Bank, MBNA, and TSB. You can check out the entire list here.
Who already uses Apple Pay?
At the same time, Apple Pay is already accepted in 250,000 stores across the UK. Everyone will be able to pay with Apple Pay wherever there is an Apple Pay or Contactless Card Logo. Shops that already signed up to support the system include Starbucks, Costa, M&S, McDonald’s, KFC, Pret A Manger, Boots, JD Sports, Nando’s, Lidl and Waitrose. Apple claims more will be added “every day.”
As we can see, the payment industry has changed over the last decade. Technology has made things easier since recently so many companies are looking to create apps that allow customers to use their own devices to pay for their products or services. What’s the next innovation and how will Apple or any other tech company surprise us? Share your comments below and let us know your thoughts on this matter.
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