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Apple said today that Tap to Pay on iPhone will be available later this year in the United States and will be available at Apple Store locations at the same time.
Small businesses and major retailers across the United States use their iPhones to securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets with a simple tap on their iPhones. Tap to Pay on iPhone does not require any additional hardware or payment terminal.
Apple also wants app developers and payment platforms to integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone into their iOS apps and offer it to their business customers as a payment option.
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. Additional payment platforms and apps will be available later this year, Apple stated in the press release.
“As more and more consumers are tapping to pay with digital wallets and credit cards, Tap to Pay on iPhone will provide businesses with a secure, private, and easy way to accept contactless payments and unlock new checkout experiences using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses of all sizes — from solopreneurs to large retailers — to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.”
Merchants will be able to unlock contactless payment acceptance through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone XS or later devices once Tap to Pay on iPhone is available. The customer will simply be asked to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the merchant’s iPhone to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallets, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.
Contactless credit and debit cards from leading payment networks, such as American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa, will work with Tap to Pay on iPhone.
Stripe’s chief business officer, Billy Alvarado, stated, “Whether you’re a salesperson at an internet-first retailer or an individual entrepreneur, you can soon accept contactless payments on a device that’s already in your pocket: your iPhone.” “With Tap to Pay on iPhone, millions of businesses using Stripe can enhance their in-person commerce experience by offering their customers a fast and secure checkout.”
In an upcoming iOS software beta, participating payment platforms and their app developer partners will be able to use Tap to Pay on iPhone in their software developer kits (SDKs).
