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11/22/2024 02:40:59 am

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Apple Pay: banks responsive, retailers hesitant

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Apple Pay has a long way to go if it's going to compete with the major credit-card companies.

Apple Pay, a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc., is shaking up the payments world and taking aim at PayPal and the credit card companies. And it looks like one side of the payments industry has sided with Apple, but the other is hesitant to work with the system.

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The positive side of Apple Pay is that 80 percent of banks are already working with Apple on the payment solution, and will take liability for any issues that arise from users on Apple Pay. In a report from The Daily Dot, four major banks said they were confident in Apple's NFC token process.

This is good for Apple Pay when getting users set up, because almost all cards from the major providers will work with Apple Pay. The problem comes when users try to use their iPhone to pay for things in stores.

Only 220,000 stores will work with Apple Pay its launch, a small number compared to the 9 million stores in the U.S. that accept credit cards. This will be even harder with rival payments solutions coming to major retailers this year, like Walmart and Best Buy, who will use CurrentC from MCX.

Fast-food chains like Pizza Hut, KFC and Chipotle will not offer Apple Pay. KFC did say they were evaluating the payment solution, but did not give any reference dates. McDonald's will be the only nationwide fast-food chain to offer Apple Pay at launch.

H&M, the popular clothing store, said they will look into Apple Pay but has no current plans to adopt the solution. Sears will not offer the solution, neither will Kmart. Even Starbucks will not accept the Apple Pay NFC solution, though it will implement it on the iPhone app.

BP, which owns thousands of gas stations worldwide, is looking into upgrading their technology and should be in a fit state to implement Apple Pay in 2016. This is at least a sign of more adoption, but none in the next two years.

It looks like companies are either interested to see how popular Apple Pay will be in the opening months or have their own rival solution already available. Apple will need to give these retailers some incentive to jump on board, or face a lackluster first few years.

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