Mobile Payment

PayPal finally adds Touch ID protection to iPhone payment app

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 27, 2015

PayPal's official iPhone app in the App Store has at last received support for Touch ID authentication, nearly two years following Apple's debut of fingerprint scanning with the iPhone 5s's fall 2013 introduction.

As a daily PayPal user, it was annoying that the mobile app would ask me to provide my PayPal password on each run. Now that Touch ID has come to the rescue, this option, once enabled in settings, lets me authorize app access easily and securely with my fingerprint.

This is what Touch ID was created for, to protect sensitive personal information like online banking, PayPal transactions and so forth. I wish PayPal supported Touch ID much sooner but it's better late than never, I guess.

Survey: Apple Pay surpasses PayPal in mobile payments

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 2, 2018

Apple Pay is picking up steam and has hit an important milestone: the service is outperforming PayPal in mobile payments, according to a new 451 Research survey shared with iDownloadBlog on Tuesday. It's been gaining momentum in the mobile payments space since becoming available six months ago, primarily at the expense of PayPal.

The March study, conducted by 451 Research’s ChangeWave service, consisted of 4,168 respondents primarily based in North America, and looked at planned use of mobile payment applications and the issue of security.

Respondents interested in buying an Apple Watch are twice as likely (54 percent) as all other smartphone owners to say they’ll use mobile payment apps (29 percent said 'Very Likely' and 25 percent said 'Somewhat Likely').

And overall consumer interest in Samsung's mobile payments service (which is launching this summer) sits at a meager eight percent of respondents who are 'Very Likely' or 'Somewhat Likely' to use Samsung Pay in the future.

Apple Pay reportedly launches in Canada in November, banks mulling secondary authentication

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2015

It appears that the rumor which asserted that talks about bringing Apple Pay to more countries were stalling isn't entirely accurate after all. As CNBC tweeted out on Friday, based on a Dow Jones report, Apple aims to launch Apple Pay in Canada this fall, marking the start of its international expansion of the mobile payment service.

Apparently, the Cupertino firm is in talks with the country's six biggest banks about a potential November launch for Apple Pay's first venture outside the U.S.

Chase says it’s activated over 1 million Apple Pay accounts

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Chase Bank has provisioned over one million wallets with Apple Pay since the service launched in October 2014. As noted by AppleInsider, the company made the announcement during an investors conference call on Tuesday.

"We continue to see good growth in the number of consumers that are provisioning Chase cards in their Apple Pay wallet," said Chase's Eileen Serra. "And as more merchants adopt, I would expect to see more traction here, as well."

Visa bringing tokenization to Europe by mid-April, paving the way for Apple Pay

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 24, 2015

Tuesday, financial services corporation and credit card issuer Visa announced that it will be rolling out tokenization technology in Europe by mid-April, a move that could speed up the arrival of Apple Pay and other new contactless payment services to the 743 million people continent.

The payment tokenization technology will be “be at the heart of new mobile payment solutions.” Needless to say, Apple Pay has mainstreamed tokenization, which basically replaces sensitive credit card and payment information with a one-time digital token exchanged between your iPhone and an NFC-enabled payment terminal.

JetBlue Airways becomes the first US airline to accept Apple Pay for in-flight purchases

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 10, 2015

Sky is definitely not the limit for Apple's mobile payment service as JetBlue Airways announced on Tuesday that it will very soon start accepting Apple Pay for in-flight purchases of premium offerings, such as EatUp snack boxes and à la carte food options from the EatUp Café, premium beverages, onboard amenities and Even More Space seating.

The airline will start accepting Apple Pay on select JetBlue transcontinental flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco in mid-February. Apple Pay will roll out to additional flights beginning in March, with all JetBlue flights accepting Apple Pay by June.

You can now send money via Western Union and pay bills using Apple Pay

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 27, 2015

Western Union just issued a press release this morning announcing that its rolling out support for Apple Pay at thousands of its flagship locations and kiosks. By accepting Apple Pay, customers will be able to transfer money and pay bills via Western Union with their iPhone and Apple Pay.

Disney World confirms accepting Apple Pay beginning December 24

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Disney World confirmed this morning that it will be accepting Apple Pay starting Wednesday, Dec. 24.

Supporting Apple's mobile payment solution by Disney's theme park empire in time for the holidays will allow visitors who own an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus to use it to make contactless payments.

Apple Pay will be accepted in most Disney World stores, quick service restaurants, bars and to purchase tickets.

Samsung allegedly taking on Apple Pay with ubiquitous solution powered by LoopPay

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Re/code is reporting that Samsung is prepping a response to Apple Pay in the form of its own mobile payment solution that doesn't require NFC and should support virtually 100 percent of credit cards and payment terminals.

The service should be announced sometime in 2015 as the South Korean giant is reportedly in talks with the Burlington, Massachusetts based mobile payments startup LoopPay about possibly incorporating their technology into its wireless mobile payment system.

Google Wallet for iPhone adds Touch ID and iPhone 6 support, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

The Internet giant Google has upped the ante in the mobile payment arena with Tuesday's refresh to its Wallet iOS app. The new version brings out support for Touch ID allowing owners of the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and the iPhone 5s and onward to unlock the app with their finger.

And with native display support for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus display resolutions, the app now takes full advantage of the screen real estate available to owners of Apple's latest handsets.

Square confirms adding Apple Pay support in 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Square, the increasingly popular mobile payment and processing firm, is going to support Apple Pay soon. That's the gist of a comment CEO Jack Dorsey (who co-founded Twitter) made speaking with CNN Money. Apple Pay integration in the Square Reader will require a new hardware iteration of the accessory with built-in NFC circuitry.

Apple Pay, which also relies on NFC, will become available as an option for Square users sometime in 2015.

America First Credit Union’s Visa cards now accepted in Apple Pay

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 9, 2017

America First Credit Union said in a media release Thursday that cardholders can now use its America First Visa credit and debit cards with Apple Pay. In addition, as explained in a FAQ outlining the service, customers can also use their Visa Business credit and debit cards with Apple's mobile payment service.

Apple Pay is accepted at more than 220,000 retailers and does not require any special merchant equipment aside from a standard NFC-enabled terminal.