Tough talks may keep Apple Pay out of Germany until 'fall or winter'

Apple Pay may finally arrive in Germany sometime this fall or winter, but is still facing resistance from the country's banks, according to a new report.

Negotiations are in a tough state, iPhone-ticker.de said on Friday, citing word out of "corporate circles." As with Apple Pay talks in some other countries, the main issue is thought to be the fees Apple claims from each transaction, which dip into bank profits.

Germany has been a conspicuous gap for Apple, even though the country is still often cash-driven at retail.

Apple Pay is currently available in 15 markets, the latest addition being Taiwan, which joined in March. While the service has expanded rapidly, the process has been smoother in some countries than others — in Australia, for example, some banks are fighting for access to Apple's NFC technology in the hopes of using it for their own payment systems.

Some deals with banks and card issuers are already up for renewal. Apple may have to tread carefully to avoid losing partners — at the same time, Apple Pay is one of the most popular mobile payment methods, and removing access could anger card customers.

Italy has been rumored has one of the company's next expansion targets. Indeed going to an Asia-Pacific support page displays a thumbnail with Italy as a supported region — the country is otherwise unlisted.

8 Comments

shikotsumyaku 8 Years · 45 comments

About 7 years ago

Jaja, the worst bureaucrats in the world move slowly like a sloth. I like that though and I hope Apple Pay arrives soon because I FINALLY want to use it! One more thing my iPhone would make redundant..

zimmermann 9 Years · 346 comments

Still not in the Netherlands. Obviously because we already have a very good payment system in, where most transactions are digitally done with bank cards that everybody has and uses. Not much to gain for Apple here, unfortunately, because I would love to use my phone and get rid of one of the many cards that cluster my wallet.

Rayz2016 8 Years · 6957 comments

zimmermann said:

Still not in the Netherlands. Obviously because we already have a very good payment system in, where most transactions are digitally done with bank cards that everybody has and uses.

That isn't peculiar to the Netherlands. or is it? Are your bank cards biometric?

maestro64 19 Years · 5029 comments

zimmermann said:

Still not in the Netherlands. Obviously because we already have a very good payment system in, where most transactions are digitally done with bank cards that everybody has and uses. Not much to gain for Apple here, unfortunately, because I would love to use my phone and get rid of one of the many cards that cluster my wallet.

That is the exact point about Apple pay no reason to carry cards with you. I still carry a card with me since some stories do not accept Apple pay as well as gas stations, for the most part I hardly pull out a card to pay I use my watch most times.