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James Martin/CNET
Apple has grand ambitions for Apple Pay. It sees the mobile-wallet system as a replacement for plastic credit cards, a revolution in the way people pay for goods and services. Apple’s heft in the technology space gives it a fighting chance at making a dent in the young contactless mobile-payments market, but it will need wide adoption from both consumers and businesses in order to thrive.
One of the first steps is getting Apple Pay onto iOS devices capable of supporting it. That move is already underway with the release of iOS 8.1, which includes Apple Pay support for Touch ID devices. The in-store Apple Pay features only work with the new iPhone 6 and iPhone Plus smartphones. However, the iPhone 6 represents many, many millions of devices out in the wild already with Apply Pay on board.
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The introduction of Apple Pay hasn’t been all smooth sailing. There have been reports from some Bank of America customers of seeing double charges. In-app purchases may also require signing in, which negates some of the convenience factor. It’s no surprise that there would be a few glitches to go along with a major new service rollout. These issues will likely be cleaned up as developers improve how Apple Pay works with apps.
Time will tell if Apple Pay will become a major mobile-wallet player or if it will be relegated to more of a curiosity. If you have a Touch ID device, then you’ve had the opportunity to take Apple Pay for a test drive. Maybe you’re going nuts buying Groupons and granola at Whole Foods. Maybe you dipped your toes in the Apple Pay water and aren’t sure if you’re going to dive fully in. Love it or hate it, vote in our poll and tell us in the comments what your experience with Apply Pay has been like so far.
