Apple launched ‘Tap to Pay’ in France this Tuesday (November 14) giving users the ability to take payment directly onto their iPhone.
The new feature will enable “millions of merchants, from small businesses to large retailers, to seamlessly and securely accept payments using only their iPhone and a partner's iOS app”, states Apple.
The payment can be made with another iPhone, an Apple Watch or with a contactless bank card. Unlike Apple Pay, there is no longer a need for the seller to have a payment terminal, allowing businesses to use this service regardless of where they operate.
Apple Pay is already accepted by more than 98% of French retailers, and thanks to this new feature, virtually any business, regardless of size, will be able to use ‘Tap to Pay’ on iPhone for payment.
Starting today, ‘Tap to Pay’ on iPhone is available in all Apple Stores in France, and is being rolled out in many retailers across the country, including Christian Dior Couture, Dyson, Rituals and Sézane.
Finally in France
Announced at the beginning of 2022, ‘Tap to Pay’ was gradually launched in the United States, Taiwan, Brazil, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However it has been slower to establish itself in Europe – only used in Ukraine and the Netherlands until now.
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Apple believes that the pool of brands, craftsmen and small businesses in France makes the roll out beneficial for merchants and buyers alike.
"We're excited to give merchants across France a simple, secure and private way to accept contactless payments with the power, security and convenience of iPhone," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
Process for the customer
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With ‘Tap to Pay’ on iPhone, merchants can enable contactless payment acceptance through a supported iOS app on an iPhone running the latest version of iOS.
At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless bank card, iPhone, or Apple Watch close to their own iPhone in order to pay with Apple Pay or another digital wallet.
Payments can be made between one iPhone and another (Credit: Apple)
'Tap to Pay' on iPhone will be compatible with contactless bank cards from major payment networks, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa.
Apple is working with payment platforms to enable support for CB (Cartes Bancaires), the most widely used payment scheme on the French market, in the coming weeks.
Payment is encrypted, secure and insured like any traditional card procedure, with the same guarantees, Apple reassures.
Privacy is fundamental
Privacy is fundamental to the design and development of all of Apple's payment features, according to the world-renowned tech company.
With ‘Tap to Pay’, customers' payment data is protected by the same technology that keeps Apple Pay private and secure.
All transactions made through Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and as with Apple Pay, Apple has no information about what is being purchased or who made the purchase.
