Apple has moved in to the e-wallet segment with the introduction of the Apple Pay. In turn Apple has gone in direct competition with e-wallet heavy weights like Paypal and WePay.
That is since if you own an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac, you can use these devices to act as contactless terminals to shop and pay via your Apple Pay account. Plus, you can also use the Apple Pay when shopping online. Thereby limiting the need for entering your credit card details online or in store. To be precise with Apple’s e-wallet, credit and debit card details are stored, and you can pay with your devices. You just hold your iPhone, or other Apple device, near the reader with your finger on Touch ID or double-click the side button on your Apple Watch, then place it adjoining the reader. A graphic representation of your card will show up within the Apple Pay app as well as your last four digits. It might seem magical, it if you think about it, it’s not that new. Google Wallet and Windows Phone 8 wallet apps, already had these functions years back. What is interesting is that Apple Pay is making use of existing base station for transactions that are equipped with the NFC reader.
A unique feature of Apple Pay is it interrogation with the Touch ID sensor. The person’s fingerprint become their biometric signature that enables the transaction. And the use of Touch ID means that no identification documents are needed. Plus, the user’s card details aren’t share by Apple when a user makes use of Apple Pay, via their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac. Indeed, your name, card number or security code is never revealed to the in store teller. Another security feature is that Apple Pay only lists your latest transactions, instead it will refer the user to their respective bank for more details.
The set-up
Apple Pay is easy to setup. Firstly for Apple Pay to work on your Apple device that operates on iOS 8 operating system. Which means you need an iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. As for the iPads, it will only work on the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad mini 3, and Apple Watch also work with it, but the iPads only support it in apps and the Apple Watch needs to be paired with an iPhone. Too, it should be added that the iPhone 5S will not be able to work. The reason is, even though the iPhone 5S has the similar sapphire-coated Touch ID button as the newer version of iPhones, the handset lacks the near field communication antenna that is need to pull off the transaction.
You don’t need to use your wallet, well you still might
Problem is that Apple Pay is not everywhere. It is currently in selected stores in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Stores in the US where it works, include ACE Hardware, Acme Markets, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Apple, Bi-lo, B&H, Babies R Us, Barneys New York, Bashas’, Baskin Robbins, Big Lots, Best Buy, BevMo, BJ’s, Bloomingdale’s, Casey’s General Store, Champs, Chevron, Chick-fil-A, Coca- Cola Vending, Corner Store, Crate & Barrel, Cub, Dan’s Fresh Market, Davis Food & Drug, Dick’s Fresh Market, Disney Store, Duane Reade, Dunkin’ Donuts, Express, Extra Mile, Farm Fresh, Firehouse Subs, Food Maxx, Foot Locker, Footaction, Fuddruckers, GameStop, Giant, Golden State Warriors, Hannaford, Harveys, Hornbacher’s, House of Hoops, Jamba Juice, Jersey Mike’s, Jet Blue, Jewel Osco, KFC, Kids Foot Locker, Kohl’s, Lady Foot Locker, Lego, Levi’s, Lin’s Fresh Market, LL Bean, Luby’s, Lucky, Maceys, Macy’s, Martin’s, McDonald’s, Meijer, Nike, Office Depot/Office Max, Orlando Magic, Panera, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Pep Boys, Petco, Pet Smart, Phoenix Suns, Quik Trip, Raley’s, Rubio’s, Save Mart, Schnucks, Sephora, Shaws Market, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers, SIX:02, Sprouts, Staples, Starbucks, Star Market, Stater Bros, Stop & Shop, Subway, Supervalu, Texaco, Toys R Us, Trader Joe’s, Ulta Beauty, United Supermarkets, Unleashed by Petco, Walgreens, Walt Disney World, Wegmans, White Castle, Whole Foods Market, and Winn Dixie.
In fact according to Apple, there are over 220,000 stores in the US alone accepting or readying this contactless payments system. Cash is withdrawn from the three major US credit card companies, namely American Express, Visa, and MasterCard, and from over 500 partaking banks.
The UK market has been the next region of the Apple Pay expansion. There, Apple Pay is easily reached in hundreds of stores where the Apple Pay or contactless logo is displayed. More so, 11 banks, such as American Express, First Direct, HSBC, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, Nation Wide, MBNA, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster, in the UK supports this means of payment.
Problems
Apple fans will be the first to go for Apple Pay, but this app allows convenience and security. The app could also limit credit card skimmers or stolen debit cards. But one should also state the reality, there is one big problem. What is your battery dies? It is with that you will still have to keep your credit card nearby.
