Apple Pay

Apple Pay’s China launch could be imminent

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2016

In December 2015, Apple officially confirmed plans to roll out its mobile payment service in China in co-operation with UnionPay, as soon as early-2016. Well, here we are in 2016 and a pair of videos discovered by MacRumors gives us a good indication that Apple Pay might be on the verge of launching in the 1.33 billion people market.

The videos show a customer choosing a UnionPay card in Apple Pay and completing a purchase at McDonald's by holding their iPhone near a QuickPass-enabled Verifone payment terminal.

Apple announces UnionPay deal to bring Apple Pay to China in early 2016

Cody Lee ∙ December 17, 2015

Apple on Thursday announced that it has reached a deal with China UnionPay to bring Apple Pay to China in early 2016. The partnership will allow UnionPay cardholders to take advantage of Apple's mobile payment system on iPhone, Apple Watch and within apps on iPad.

Using Apple Pay in Chinese stores will be as simple as holding your iPhone near a UnionPay QuickPass-enabled POS terminal with your finger on Touch ID. And with Apple Watch, you'll be able to double click the side button and hold the watch face up to the contactless reader.

KGI: mid-range iPhone 6c with Apple Pay, fast A9 chip and three color options due in early-2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

According to a research note that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent to clients this morning, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, Apple's rumored four-inch iPhone refresh will be released in early-2016, possibly in time for the spring.

It will feature an iPhone 5s-like exterior design with an iPhone 6s-like display that's curved at the edges.

The device apparently sports a colorful metal chassis, runs the A9 system-on-a-chip manufactured by both TSMC and Samsung (which also powers the latest iPhone 6s series) and includes NFC to support Apple Pay transactions.

MasterCard now offering free public transit to Apple Pay users in London

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2015

As part of its Fare Free Mondays promotion, global financial services corporation MasterCard is now offering Apple Pay users free public transit in London for a limited time. The promo starts today, November 23, and is valid over the next four consecutive Mondays ending December 14, 2015.

During those Mondays, customers in London can take advantage of Apple Pay on their iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch to use London's public transit network at no charge. That is, up to £27.90 in daily fares per customer is included in the form of refundable funds.

Apple launches new Guided Tour video highlighting Apple Pay

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

In the midst of an advertising blitz from competitors Google and Samsung, Apple has posted a new video to its YouTube channel as a means of informing customers and potential customers about Apple Pay.

The video, which falls under the Guided Tour umbrella, details the Apple Pay setup process, security information, touch-less payment at POS terminals, and more. For those of us who use Apple Pay everyday, there's nothing new to learn here, but it's a great overview for new users and potential customers.

Apple Pay launches in Australia with Amex

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2015

After bringing Apple Pay to Canadian users 24 hours ago, the iPhone maker's mobile payment service is now available Down Under with American Express.

Amex issued card members in Australia can now add their card to Apple Pay using the Wallet application on their iPhone or through Settings. Local bank-issued debit and credit cards are not supported yet.

Using Apple Pay with American Express lets customers enjoy all the rewards and benefits of American Express membership and pay with Apple Pay anywhere contactless payments are already accepted.

UK’s TSB and Tesco Bank now support Apple Pay

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2015

In addition to adding Canada as the third country where Apple Pay is available (limited to American Express cardholders at launch), availability of Apple's mobile payments service in the United Kingdom, where Apple Pay launched this summer, increased today with financial institutions TSB and Tesco Bank now supporting the service. This leaves Barclays as the last UK major bank without support for Apple Pay.

Apple Pay hits Canada with American Express

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2015

A year following its October 2014 debut in the United States, Apple's mobile payments service is now available to American Express cardholders in Canada, the company said on Twitter.

“Cardmembers can earn the same rewards they already enjoy using Amex with Apple Pay,” said the financial services corporation. In addition to the US and UK, where Apple Pay launched this summer, this marks the third country where the service is available.

WSJ: Apple developing person-to-person mobile payment service that could launch in 2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2015

According to The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Apple is in talks with banks in the United States on a brand new person-to-person mobile payment service that would be rival to PayPal’s Venmo platform and could launch as soon as 2016.

According to people familiar with the ongoing talks, it's unknown at this stage whether any of the banks have cut a deal with the iPhone maker and how the rumored service would tie into the banking industry’s existing infrastructure.

Instagram testing interactive shopping ads with Force Touch, In-App Purchases and Apple Pay

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2015

The leading photo sharing service Instagram, owned by Facebook, is testing various new ad formats—among them interactive ads with In-App Purchases and built-in support for Force Touch and Apple Pay.

As reported last evening by Digiday, citing an ad agency source familiar with the test, the company is hoping that new ad formats will help drive sales by selling items right from the Instagram feed, without the need to click off the app.

Starbucks will soon begin accepting Apple Pay

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Starbucks fans rejoice! The popular coffee chain will soon support Apple Pay. Jennifer Bailey, the head of Apple's mobile payment arm, broke the news Thursday onstage at the Code/Mobile conference, telling Recode's Ina Fried that the launch is planned for early next year.

Note that this will be different than the current implementation of Apple Pay in the Starbucks app, which only really allows you to re-fill your Starbucks Card. In-store support of the payments service will allow users to pay for their coffee using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

How to quickly access Wallet and Apple Pay on the Lock screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 8, 2022

Those who have tried Apple Pay can attest that paying with your iPhone couldn't be simpler. You just hold your device near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID or your face authenticated with Face ID to pay for the goods or services you bought.

But wouldn't it be great if you could choose any payment cards, passes, and loyalty cards from your Apple Pay account on the Lock screen, without having to unlock your iPhone?

You can now make your purchases by double-pressing the Side button or Home button to access Wallet without unlocking your iPhone, a feature partially borrowed from the Apple Watch. You then simply choose a card and authenticate your purchase via Touch ID or Face ID.

Here's how you can enable Wallet access right from the iPhone's Lock screen with just a few taps.