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This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET’s complete coverage from and about Apple’s annual developers conference.
CNET
Apple will reportedly start allowing retail-store credit cards on its Apple Pay mobile payments system Monday.
The Wall Street Journal reported the expected change, citing people familiar with the situation, adding that other features are expected to be announced Monday, as well, at Apple’s annual developers conference known as WWDC.
An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple Pay has grown quickly since the company launched the mobile payments service in October, though Apple now faces more competition from Google’s Android Pay, unveiled in late May, and Samsung’s mobile payments service, called Samsung Pay, as well as PayPal. In March, Apple said the service was available in 700,000 locations, up from 220,000 from when it launched. And more than 2,500 banks supported the service compared with about 500 at launch.
Apple, Google, Samsung and others are all trying to grow their mobile payments systems to make their products more integral parts of their users’ lives, while also gaining new insights on people’s spending behavior. Yet, mobile payments for years hasn’t gained much momentum, since people have seen little reason to switch from plastic and cash, and many retailers haven’t signed on to these new systems.
Apple Pay appears to be giving mobile payments a much-needed boost, but time will tell if it will last. In January, Apple said Apple Pay made up more than $2 out of every $3 spent on purchases using contactless payments. (Contactless payments cover any devices — smart-cards included — that make payments using a radio frequency.) Cook has said that
Apple announced in September that it was partnering with Visa, Mastercard and American Express along with several issuing banks to allow iPhone owners to store their credit card accounts on their devices and pay for items by tapping their phones on payment terminals. Apple has also worked with retailers, including Macy’s, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Staples, Subway, McDonald’s, Disney and Whole Foods, to bring Apple Pay to store locations.
