Apple has announced the expansion of its Tap to Pay on iPhone feature to eight new countries, significantly broadening the reach of this innovative payment solution. As of today, businesses in Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Malta can utilize their iPhones to accept contactless payments without the need for additional hardware.
Understanding Tap to Pay on iPhone
Introduced in 2022, Tap to Pay on iPhone transforms compatible iPhones into contactless payment terminals. This functionality allows merchants to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets directly on their devices. The process is straightforward: during checkout, the merchant prompts the customer to hold their contactless payment method near the merchant’s iPhone, and the transaction is securely completed using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
Benefits for Businesses
This expansion offers numerous advantages for businesses:
– Cost Efficiency: Eliminates the need for additional payment hardware, reducing operational costs.
– Mobility: Enables merchants to accept payments anywhere, enhancing flexibility and customer service.
– Security: Transactions are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, ensuring customer data protection.
Supported Payment Platforms and Networks
In each of the newly added countries, multiple payment platforms support Tap to Pay on iPhone:
– Belgium: Adyen, Axepta, Mollie, myPOS, Pay.nl, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline.
– Croatia: Adyen, Viva, and Worldline.
– Cyprus: Adyen, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline.
– Denmark: Adyen, Mollie, Nexi, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Surfboard Payments, and Viva; with PayPal integration forthcoming.
– Greece: myPOS, Viva, and Worldline; with NBG Pay integration forthcoming.
– Iceland: Adyen, Rapyd, and Revolut; with Teya integration forthcoming.
– Luxembourg: Adyen, Mollie, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline.
– Malta: Adyen, Global Payments, Revolut, SumUp, and Viva.
Tap to Pay on iPhone is compatible with contactless credit and debit cards from leading payment networks, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. Additionally, regional networks such as Bancontact in Belgium (available with Axepta and Viva) and Dankort in Denmark (available with Nexi and Surfboard Payments) are supported.
Global Expansion Timeline
Apple’s commitment to expanding Tap to Pay on iPhone is evident in its progressive rollout:
– March 2025: The feature was introduced in Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
– October 2024: Expansion included Austria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Romania, and Sweden.
– November 2024: New Zealand joined the list of supported countries.
Implications for the Payment Industry
The continuous expansion of Tap to Pay on iPhone reflects a broader trend towards digital and contactless payment solutions. By enabling businesses to accept payments directly on their devices, Apple is not only enhancing convenience for merchants and customers but also promoting the adoption of secure, contactless transactions globally.
Conclusion
With the inclusion of these eight new countries, Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available in a total of 25 countries, marking a significant milestone in Apple’s efforts to revolutionize the payment landscape. This expansion underscores the company’s dedication to providing innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses and consumers worldwide.
