What is Apple pay?

It’s becoming increasingly rare for people to pay with cash when they go shopping. In fact, it is becoming more popular to use contactless payments, rather than paying by chip and pin. With contactless payments on the rise and the convenience of making payments from a mobile device, a lot of people now go shopping without even taking a purse or wallet with them.

So, what mobile payments are available and how can you set them up? In this blog you will learn:

• Different types of payment method
• What is Apple Pay?
• How do I set up Apple Pay?
• How do I use Apple Pay?
• Is Apple Pay safe?
• Can I accept Apple Pay in my store?

Different types of payment method

The most widely used payment methods are cash and credit or debit card. However, in recent years, contactless payments have become more popular. This means that more people are making payments in shops by tapping their mobile device, debit or credit cards onto the contactless payment terminal. Contactless mobile payment only works if you have the Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Android Pay or Google Pay app installed on your iPhone or Android device.

What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay launched in October 2014 and it is a contactless digital wallet that allows users to store the details of their payment card on their mobile device. This means they can make payments with an iPad, iPhone or Apple watch by simply tapping it on the contactless terminal, without the need for a physical card.

How do I set up Apple Pay?

Apple Pay should already be installed on most new iPhones but you may need to download the Wallet from the App Store onto your iPhone or iPad as well as your mobile banking app. Open the Wallet app and press the + to add a card by scanning it or entering your card number manually. Once you have added a card you may need to follow your bank’s instructions and enter a security code. When you have finished adding a few cards to your wallet, you can select one to use as your default card when making contactless payments.

If you have multiple Apple devices, you will need to set up Apple Pay on each device.

How do I use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay supports most major debit and credit card providers so it is unlikely that you will struggle to use Apple Pay with your bank. Apple Pay works by using near field communication (NFC) so you can make secure payments from your mobile device. All you need to do is rest your fingerprint on the Touch ID or double-click the side button on your iPhone or Apple watch and hold your device near the contactless card reader. You may be required to use your face ID to verify the payment but once all of your cards are set up, it is easy to select your default card and make a payment.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Apple Pay, and other contactless payment methods, are actually safer than using your physical credit or debit cards. You will probably need to use your face or touch ID which holds your personal biometric information, making it extremely difficult for someone else to impersonate. Using this information to verify your payments makes it more secure than using your card because if your mobile device is stolen, they just won’t have your biometrics to make fraudulent purchases.

Can I accept Apple Pay in my store?

If you are a store owner, you want to be sure that you have the right systems in place so that you can serve your customers efficiently and make it easy for them to purchase. Most card terminals that accept contactless payments will also accept Apple, Android or Google Pay. As these are the most popular digital payment methods, you should probably double-check that your card reader accepts contactless payments from Apple Pay.