Apple Pay could launch in Germany this week after long wait

After one of the most conspicuous gaps in Apple Pay's European coverage, Germany may finally be getting access to the payment platform this week.

An announcement could even be made as soon as Tuesday, Macerkopf said, citing multiple sources including people in the banking industry. That may be supported by a since-deleted Twitter post from Fidor Bank talking about a launch by the end of the week.

Apple promised a 2018 German rollout earlier this year, and in November the company updated its German site to say Apple Pay was "coming soon." Aside from Fidor, other card issuers will include Boon, Bunq, ComDirect, Edenred, Hanseatic Bank, N26, and O2 Banking.

Card issuers have been mired in negotiations with Apple for a year or more, likely over transaction fees. Apple takes a small cut of each Apple Pay transaction, and on a large scale that can eat into a bank's profits. At the same time, banks are increasingly under public pressure to support mobile payment options, whether NFC-based or otherwise.

Some of the initial retailers planning support in Germany are Aldi, Galeria Kaufhof, H&M, Lidl, MediaMarkt, Saturn, Shell, and Zara. BVG riders in Berlin will be able to use their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for trips.

Germany is continental Europe's biggest economy — yet even countries like Belgium and Kazakhstan have jumped ahead in line.

5 Comments

eyekey 9 Years · 20 comments

About 6 years ago

There were so many rumors when this starts. Last week, on Dec. 1st, 3 times in November, October, July... I do not believe it until it is finally here. German banks suck*.

wonkothesane 12 Years · 1738 comments

...yes, together with Doom 4 and the PB G5...

so so tired of waiting, always between hope and despair ;)

spheric 9 Years · 2705 comments

eyekey said:

There were so many rumors when this starts. Last week, on Dec. 1st, 3 times in November, October, July... I do not believe it until it is finally here. German banks suck*.

Their official announcement page is not a "rumour".

https://www.apple.com/de/apple-pay/

urahara 13 Years · 733 comments

spheric said:

eyekey said:

There were so many rumors when this starts. Last week, on Dec. 1st, 3 times in November, October, July... I do not believe it until it is finally here. German banks suck*.

Their official announcement page is not a "rumour".

https://www.apple.com/de/apple-pay/

Yep, it's a fact, that on that page it is stated that it's coming soon. Very helpful.
There were so many rumors when this starts. Or does the page provide the date? Can you find it?

urahara said:

spheric said:

eyekey said:

There were so many rumors when this starts. Last week, on Dec. 1st, 3 times in November, October, July... I do not believe it until it is finally here. German banks suck*.

Their official announcement page is not a "rumour".

https://www.apple.com/de/apple-pay/

Yep, it's a fact, that on that page it is stated that it's coming soon. Very helpful.
There were so many rumors when this starts. Or does the page provide the date? Can you find it?

An announcement that it is „coming soon“ is not a „rumour“ about imminent introduction. It is an announcement. Yes, without concrete date, which left that part up to speculation.

At any rate, it’s out today.