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James Martin/CNET
Apple is prepping employees on how its Apple Pay payments system will work as it prepares for launch, according to leaked documents uncovered by 9to5Mac.
Apple Pay is Apple’s first attempt into the world of mobile payments. By using an iPhone 6 enabled with near-field communications, or NFC, and your stored credit or debit card information, you’ll be able to pay for items with your phone at any store or merchant that supports the technology. Apple Pay is already supported by more 220,000 retailers, according to Apple.
Described in a story published by 9to5Mac on Monday, users can set up Apple Pay through the Passbook app either during the initial iOS 8 setup or via a new Settings section called Passbook & Apple Pay. You can add your credit or debit card details to Passbook through your iTunes account or by scanning in the information using your phone’s camera. You’d be able to store up to eight credit and/or debit cards, according to 9to5Mac.
Together, Passbook and Apple Pay will be able to keep track of your purchases and other information. You’ll be able to view a list of recent transactions, see your credit card number and unique device account number and contact your bank directly, according to 9to5Mac. The service will also offer a quick way to download an accompanying App Store app and give you an option to receive push notifications.
And here’s one handy option. If your credit card expires, you don’t need to update it on your phone. The card will automatically get updated through your credit card company, and you’ll even be told via a push notification that it’s been updated, according to the training material.
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Okay, that all sounds cool. But what about security? Receipts for any items you buy via Apple Pay will not show your contact details or credit card number but only the last four digits of your iPhone’s unique Apple Pay ID. As described by Apple, the Apple Pay ID is a number unique to your device that is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in a dedicated chip on your iPhone.
And where do you turn if you run into trouble paying for a product through Apple ID? Well, it depends on the problem. You can first head over to your local Apple Store where employees can use special software to see if the issue is with the hardware. If not, you’ll likely need to to contact your bank or credit card issuer to see if the problem rests on that side of the fence.
Finally, Apple Store employees will have to take an Apple Pay training class in the “coming days,” 9to5Mac added, a sign that the payments system is getting ready to launch.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple will hold a media event on Thursday in which it’s expected to unveil the new iPads, new Macs, and officially cut the ribbon on Mac OS X Yosemite. It’s a safe bet the company will also reveal more details on Apple Pay and clue us in as to when the service will finally roll out to the public.
