Roger Fingas
Continuing a gradual global expansion, Apple Pay will arrive in Norway, Poland, and Ukraine within the next several months, Apple CEO Tim Cook disclosed on Tuesday.
Cook didn't reveal any further launch details in the company's quarterly results call.
Last May an Alfa-Bank executive claimed that Apple Pay would be coming to Ukraine sometime in the June 2018 quarter, consistent with Cook's comments.
A December report claimed that Apple was planning a Polish launch as soon as the March quarter. While that fell through, a June-quarter rollout was considered more likely. The company was allegedly still negotiating transaction fees with regional banks — potentially a protracted process, given the reluctance of banks to split revenue.
As for this quarter's performance, worldwide Apple Pay transactions tripled year-over-year in the most recent period, which would indicate significant popularity within the service's existing markets. Aside from the U.S., supported countries include the likes of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, the UK, and more.
Apple Pay debuted in the U.S. in October 2014. During 2015 only three more countries came onboard: Australia, Canada, and the U.K. Expansion finally accelerated in 2016 and 2017, but to date the only new country in 2018 has been Brazil.
Supported devices were initially limited to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but now encompass not just iPhones but iPads, Macs, and the Apple Watch.
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7 Comments
I use Apple Pay as much as I can. Mostly on my Apple Watch. More and more places are supporting Apple Pay. They may not even know it and tell you that doesn't work and then BAM it does!!! Keep a lookout for the NFC symbol. It doesn't have to say Apple Pay or anything else.
It's not just for speed, though it is faster by far than sticking your card into the slot. That's so slow. It's the Security of using Apple Pay over swiping your card. Big retailers actually hold onto your Card Number Data and use that to track you and your spending. Then someplace like Target gets hacked and they get everyone's numbers and now people are buying stuff on your card. It's happened to be a couple years in a row. it's a huge hassle to cancel, go the bank and get a temp card, wait for the new one and change your credit card info you use to pay your monthly bills. You end up missing a few and paying late.
Using Apple Pay, your Credit Card number is never used. It's one 1 time use encrypted Token. It goes directly to your bank. Even if someone later came along and figured out how to hack it. it's completely worthless. So you have Speed, Security, and not being Tracked. Unless you're also using a store loyalty card. The #1 thing I care about is Security. That's the #1 reason I'm using Apple Pay. I can't wait for the day when I never have to carry a single credit card on me ever. Use my Apple Watch everywhere!!!!
After 2 years of retail purchases I just made my first Pay online purchase this week for a first time purchase at an upstart company. Obviously I don't buy much but this is exactly why I was looking forward to using it. Although they have my address of course, they don't have my CC info, so no worries of hacking or other funny business.
Approaching four years since original release and once more noticibly absent is Germany. Funny thing: I can use Apple Pay in a number of places here already (just need a non German CC). Maybe it’s because we’re geberally behind with such things, and shops and restaurants still appear to feel CC payment as exoctic or simply don’t accept it. Cash, baby. Or maybe debit card. The fact that we use CC with PIN might also contribute as I was once again surprised when I recentlynpais in the US without signature nor typing in a PIN.
Apple Pay is slower than just waving an NFC card, but yes it’s supposed to be safer.
Norway’s card terminals are already 90+% NFC-capable (I used Apple Pay there nearly everywhere last summer) so this will be an easy rollout.
I used ApplePay online for the first time today. In a sore I find a credit or debit card just as quick but online ApplePay was a revelation!