Apple today announced plans to introduce a new “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature that will allow compatible iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, with no additional hardware required.
Apple said the feature will launch in the U.S. later this year and will allow merchants to accept contactless payments through supported iOS apps using an iPhone XS or newer. At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their own iPhone or Apple Watch, contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.
Currently, merchants that accept contactless payments on an iPhone must rely on additional hardware like the Square Reader, which comes in various models that work wirelessly or connect to an iPhone’s Lightning connector or headphone jack.
Stripe will be the first payment platform to offer “Tap to Pay on iPhone” to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app this spring, and additional payment platforms and apps will follow later this year, according to Apple. Apple Stores in the U.S. will also roll out the feature later this year. It appears that the feature will be exclusive to the U.S. at launch, with no other countries mentioned.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman exclusively revealed that Apple was planning this feature last month.
Related Stories
Apple to Allow In-App Third-Party Payment Options for First Time in the Netherlands
Apple has announced that it will allow third-party payment options for in-app purchases for dating apps in the Netherlands, in the first ever concession of its kind. In a message posted on its developer site late on Friday, Apple announced that it will comply with a Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ruling that compels the company to allow third-party payment services to…
Japanese Prepaid Cards Nanaco and WAON to Support Apple Pay Later This Year
Two popular Japanese prepaid money cards will be gaining support for Apple Pay later this year, allowing the cards to be added to the Wallet app for contactless payments using an iPhone or Apple Watch where accepted, it was announced today. The cards set to gain Apple Pay support include Seven & I’s Nanaco card and AEON’s WAON card, as noted by Ata Distance. The blog, which focuses on…
Apple to Collect 27% Commission on Third-Party App Payment Systems in the Netherlands
Apple says it will take 27% commission on purchases made in dating apps through third-party payment options in the Netherlands, in compliance with a Dutch regulatory ruling. In an update on its developer support site, Apple said it would collect 27% commission instead of its usual 30% on transactions made in dating apps that use alternative payment methods. Apple says the decreased…
iOS 15.4 Beta 2 Adds ‘Tap to Pay on iPhone’ Framework
The second beta of iOS 15.4 adds code for the new “Tap to Pay” feature that Apple announced this morning. “Tap to Pay on iPhone” is designed to allow NFC-compatible iPhones to accept payments through Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, without requiring additional hardware. Tap to Pay on iPhone is enabled in the latest beta, but it does require…
Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 to Developers
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming just a day after the launch of iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3. Developers can download iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad. The updates add new…
Square Could Be in Trouble After Launch of Apple’s ‘Tap to Pay’ Feature
Apple’s recently announced “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature, a new way to accept contactless payments with no additional hardware required, could present challenges for the current key players in the contactless payment space, such as Square. Tap to Pay on iPhone allows merchants to accept contactless payments through supported iOS apps using an iPhone XS or newer. At checkout, the merchant…
Popular Stories
Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac Studio, and More
Apple’s virtual “Peek Performance” event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we’re expecting to see new iPhone SE and iPad Air models, as well as at least one new Mac model. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company’s TV app across its platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates …
M1 Ultra Outperforms 28-Core Intel Mac Pro in First Leaked Benchmark
The first benchmark for Apple’s M1 Ultra chip popped up on Geekbench following today’s event, confirming that the doubled-up M1 Max is indeed able to outperform the highest-end Mac Pro as Apple claims. Labeled Mac13,2, the Mac Studio with 20-core M1 Ultra that was benchmarked earned a single-core score of 1793 and a multi-core score of 24055. Comparatively, the highest-end Mac Pro with…
Cheaper 27-Inch ‘Studio Display’ Reportedly Coming at Tomorrow’s Apple Event
Apple’s long-awaited consumer-level display, reportedly set to be called the “Studio Display,” will launch tomorrow during Apple’s “Peek Performance” event, according to a new rumor from YouTuber Luke Miani. In a video showcasing renders alleged to be the upcoming “Mac Studio,” Miani also shares renders of the “Studio Display.” According to the YouTuber who has an unverified track record…
Kuo: 2022 MacBook Air to Feature M1 Chip, More Color Options and All-New Design
Following today’s event that saw the introduction of the Mac Studio, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has provided some detail on the MacBook Air, another Mac product that we’re expecting to see refreshed later in the year. According to Kuo, the 2022 MacBook Air will have an all-new form factor design and more color options. Previous rumors have suggested the new MacBook Air will not…
Four Apple Devices You Shouldn’t Buy Right Now – New Models Are Imminent
New Apple products are expected to be announced at the company’s “Peek Performance” event on March 8, so prospective customers should now hold off on buying at least four currently-available Apple devices until updated models launch. Based on reports from reliable sources over the past two years, Apple is expected to announce replacements for at least four of its current devices with new…
Evidence of M2 Apple Silicon Chip Spotted Ahead of Apple Event on Tuesday
Evidence that Apple is testing the M2 Apple silicon chip, expected to debut first in a new MacBook Air and refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro, has been spotted by a developer ahead of Tuesday’s “Peek performance” Apple event. As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, a “developer source” has informed him that in recent weeks, Apple has been testing a chip with an…
Gurman: ‘Mac Studio’ Mac Mini/Mac Pro Hybrid and New Display With A-Series Chip Are ‘Ready to Go’
Apple could unveil a new “Mac Studio” machine and a new display that runs iOS at the March 8 event, according to a last minute confirmation from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In a tweet, Gurman says that the Mac Studio and a “new monitor running iOS are “ready to go” and will likely be debuting tomorrow. Earlier today, YouTuber Luke Miani shared renders of what he claims is the “Mac Studio,”…
