“Apple is bringing a revolutionary upgrade to contactless payments across Europe, as the tech giant introduces Tap to Pay on iPhone in a slew of additional European countries. With a mere tap of the screen, iPhone users in these new markets will be able to make secure, cashless transactions with their device, marking a significant milestone in the seamless integration of Apple’s payment capabilities. In this article, we’ll explore the latest development and what it means for consumers, businesses, and the payments landscape as a whole.”
Expanding Contactless Payments
Apple today introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland, enabling millions of merchants to use iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept in-person, contactless payments.
In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, Tap to Pay on iPhone makes it easy for businesses of any size to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards,1 Apple Pay, and other digital wallets using only their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app — no additional hardware or payment terminal is required.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, merchants can accept contactless payments through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later running the latest iOS version. At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone or Apple Watch, or other digital wallets near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.
No additional hardware is needed, so merchants can accept payments from wherever they do business.
European Expansion: New Countries and Partners
- Bulgaria: Adyen, myPOS, Revolut, and Viva; SumUp coming soon
- Finland: Adyen, Mollie, Nets, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp and Viva; Surfboard Payments coming soon
- Hungary: Adyen, Global Payments, myPOS, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline
- Liechtenstein: Adyen
- Poland: Adyen, eService with PKO Bank, Mollie, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline; Planet Pay, Revolut, and PeP (part of Nexi) coming soon
- Portugal: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, and Viva
- Slovakia: Adyen, Global Payments Slovenská Sporitel’ňa, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp coming soon
- Slovenia: Adyen, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp and hobex coming soon
- Switzerland: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Nexi, Stripe, SumUp, and Worldline; hobex coming soon
Security and Privacy: Apple’s Commitment
Privacy is fundamental in the design and development across all of Apple’s payment features.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, customers’ payment data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure.
All transactions made using Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and Apple doesn’t know what is being purchased or who is buying it.
Developer Updates and Analytics
New Sign-in Options and Analytics Reports
Developers can also enable new sign-in options for their apps.
Today, Apple is introducing new options for how apps globally can deliver in-app experiences to users, including streaming games and mini-programs.
Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog.
Apps will also be able to provide enhanced discovery opportunities for streaming games, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins that are found within their apps.
Additionally, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins will be able to incorporate Apple’s In-App Purchase system to offer their users paid digital content or services for the first time, such as a subscription for an individual chatbot.
Each experience made available in an app on the App Store will be required to adhere to all App Store Review Guidelines and its host app will need to maintain an age rating of the highest age-rated content included in the app.
The changes Apple is announcing reflect feedback from Apple’s developer community and is consistent with the App Store’s mission to provide a trusted place for users to find apps they love and developers everywhere with new capabilities to grow their businesses.
Apps that host this content are responsible for ensuring all the software included in their app meets Apple’s high standards for user experience and safety.
New app analytics Apple provides developers with powerful dashboards and reports to help them measure their apps’ performance through App Analytics, Sales and Trends, and Payments and Financial Reports.
Today, Apple is introducing new analytics for developers everywhere to help them get even more insight into their businesses and their apps’ performance, while maintaining Apple’s long-held commitment to ensure users are not identifiable at an individual level.
Over 50 new reports will be available through the App Store Connect API to help developers analyze their app performance and find opportunities for improvement with more metrics in areas like:
- Engagement — with additional information on the number of users on the App Store interacting with a developer’s app or sharing it with others
- Commerce — with additional information on downloads, sales and proceeds, pre-orders, and transactions made with the App Store’s secure In-App Purchase system
- App usage — with additional information on crashes, active devices, installs, app deletions, and more
- Frameworks usage — with additional information on an app’s interaction with OS functionality such as PhotoPicker, Widgets, and CarPlay
Apple Introduces Tap to Pay on iPhone in More European Countries
Apple has expanded the availability of Tap to Pay on iPhone to nine additional European countries, allowing millions of merchants to accept in-person, contactless payments using their iPhone. This feature, which was previously available in the US, enables businesses of any size to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets using only their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app.
Without the need for additional hardware or payment terminals, merchants can now accept contactless payments through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later running the latest iOS version. At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone, or Apple Watch near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.
Apple has collaborated with leading payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks to make Tap to Pay on iPhone easy to implement. The company works closely with these partners to offer the feature, which can be integrated into iOS apps, making it simple for merchants to enable secure and convenient payments.
- Bulgaria: Adyen, myPOS, Revolut, and Viva; SumUp coming soon
- Finland: Adyen, Mollie, Nets, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, and Viva; Surfboard Payments coming soon
- Hungary: Adyen, Global Payments, myPOS, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline
- Liechtenstein: Adyen
- Poland: Adyen, eService with PKO Bank, Mollie, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline; Planet Pay, Revolut, and PeP (part of Nexi) coming soon
- Portugal: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, and Viva
- Slovakia: Adyen, Global Payments Slovenská Sporitel’ňa, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp coming soon
- Slovenia: Adyen, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp and hobex coming soon
- Switzerland: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Nexi, Stripe, SumUp, and Worldline; hobex coming soon
New Sign-in Options for Apps and Mini-Programs
Apple has introduced new sign-in options for apps and mini-programs, enabling developers to deliver in-app experiences to users in a more convenient and secure manner. This change reflects feedback from Apple’s developer community and is consistent with the App Store’s mission to provide a trusted place for users to find apps they love and developers to grow their businesses.
Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog. Apps will also be able to provide enhanced discovery opportunities for streaming games, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins found within their apps. Additionally, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins will be able to incorporate Apple’s In-App Purchase system to offer paid digital content or services for the first time.
Each experience made available in an app on the App Store will be required to adhere to all App Store Review Guidelines, and the host app will need to maintain an age rating of the highest age-rated content included in the app. Apps that host this content are responsible for ensuring all the software included in their app meets Apple’s high standards for user experience and safety.
Enhanced App Experiences and Discovery
Developers can now enable new in-app experiences, such as streaming games and mini-apps, by following Apple’s guidelines for hosting these types of content. This will allow users to access a wider range of content within their favorite apps, while maintaining the same level of security and convenience they expect from the App Store.
Apple’s guidelines for hosting streaming games and mini-apps in apps require that each experience be submitted for review and meet the App Store’s content guidelines. Developers must also ensure that the software included in their app meets Apple’s high standards for user experience and safety.
New Analytics Reports for Developers
Apple has introduced new analytics reports for developers, providing them with more insight into their app’s performance and helping them identify opportunities for improvement. These new reports will be available through the App Store Connect API and will include metrics in areas such as engagement, commerce, and app usage.
Developers will have access to over 50 new reports, including information on user engagement, such as the number of users interacting with their app or sharing it with others. Commerce metrics will provide information on downloads, sales, and proceeds, as well as pre-orders and transactions made with the App Store’s secure In-App Purchase system.
App usage metrics will include information on crashes, active devices, installs, app deletions, and more. Frameworks usage metrics will provide information on an app’s interaction with OS functionality such as PhotoPicker, Widgets, and CarPlay.
Streamlined App Analytics and Access
Developers will be able to grant third-party access to their reports conveniently through the API, making it easier to share data with partners and collaborators.
The new analytics reports will provide developers with a more comprehensive understanding of their app’s performance, helping them make data-driven decisions and improve their app’s user experience.
Groundbreaking Health Features
Apple has introduced new sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch, which use an innovative new Breathing Disturbances metric to detect small movements at the wrist associated with interruptions to normal respiratory patterns during sleep.
The Breathing Disturbances metric can be used to assess restfulness of sleep and can be influenced by factors such as alcohol, medications, sleep position, and more. Users can view their nightly Breathing Disturbances in the Health app, where they are classified as elevated or not elevated, and can be viewed over a one-month, six-month, or one-year period.
For more informed conversations with their healthcare providers, users can export a PDF that shows when sleep apnea may have occurred, three months of breathing disturbance data, and additional information.
Protecting User Privacy and Health
Apple is committed to protecting user privacy and health in its new features. The company has designed its health features to be private and secure, and user data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure.
All transactions made using Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and Apple doesn’t know what is being purchased or who is buying it.
AirPods Pro 2 with Active Hearing Protection and Hearing Aid Feature
Apple has introduced AirPods Pro 2, which provide a clinically validated Hearing Test feature and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature. The first-of-its-kind software-based Hearing Aid feature helps make access to hearing assistance easier than ever at an approachable price point.
The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to receive marketing authorization from global health authorities soon and will be available this fall in more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan.
Apple is committed to protecting user privacy and health in its new features, and the company has designed its health features to be private and secure. User data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Apple’s expansion of Tap to Pay on iPhone to more European countries marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to revolutionize mobile payments. By allowing businesses to accept contactless payments directly on their iPhones, Apple is not only simplifying transactions but also opening up new opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The rollout of Tap to Pay on iPhone in countries such as the UK, Germany, and France demonstrates Apple’s commitment to providing innovative payment solutions that cater to diverse markets.
The implications of this development are far-reaching, with the potential to transform the way businesses operate and interact with their customers. As mobile payments continue to gain traction, Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of commerce. Looking ahead, it will be exciting to see how businesses adapt and innovate using this technology, and how Apple will continue to refine and expand its payment offerings.
As Apple continues to push the boundaries of mobile payments, one thing is clear: the future of commerce is increasingly mobile, and Tap to Pay on iPhone is at the forefront of this revolution. As we move towards a cashless society, Apple’s innovative payment solutions will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the course of this transformation. The question is, are you ready to tap into the future of payments?
