Apple today announced plans to introduce a new “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature that will allow compatible iPhones to accept payments through Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, without requiring additional hardware.
Tap to Pay does not require any additional hardware, such as a separate payment terminal. Instead, it will be available to app developers to integrate into their iOS apps.
Launching in the US later this year, the feature will allow merchants to accept contactless payments using an iPhone XS or newer through a supported iOS app.
At checkout, merchants simply prompt customers to bring their iPhone or Apple Watch, contactless credit or debit card or another digital wallet close to the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be completed securely via NFC technology.
Currently, merchants that accept contactless payments on the iPhone must rely on additional hardware like the Square Reader, which comes in a variety of models and works wirelessly or connects to the iPhone’s Lightning connector or headphone jack.
According to Apple , Stripe will be the first payment platform to offer “tap to pay on iPhone” to its enterprise customers, including Shopify, with other payment platforms and apps to follow later this year. Apple Stores in the US will also roll out the feature later this year. The feature will be exclusive to the US at launch, as no other countries or regions were mentioned in the announcement.
“As more consumers pay with digital wallets and credit cards,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, “click and pay on the iPhone will provide businesses with a secure, private and simple way to accept contactless payments and unlock new checkout experiences with the power, security and convenience of the iPhone. By partnering with payment platforms, app developers and payment networks, we are enabling people of all sizes It’s easier than ever for businesses of all sizes – from the self-employed to large retailers – to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their businesses.”