Contactless Tap to Pay Is Officially Bound for iPhone

The app will also work with contactless credit/debit cards

By
Rob Rich
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Rob Rich
News Reporter
  • College for Creative Studies
Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more.
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Published on February 8, 2022 01:34PM EST
Fact checked by
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Fact checked by Jerri Ledford
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Gulf Coast Community College
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Tap to Pay is confirmed to be heading to the iPhone, with an app that will enable iPhone XS models and above to accept contactless payments.

The rumor of Apple bringing direct, contactless payment features that won't require any additional hardware to the iPhone has been made official in a new announcement. Apple's new Tap to Pay feature will let small businesses and retailers accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, or other digital wallets with a tap to their iPhone.

Contactless tap to pay with iPhone

Apple

According to the announcement, Tap to Pay won't require the use of external devices (i.e., Square readers) or additional payment terminals. Payment platforms and app developers will be able to offer the payment option directly through iOS app integration instead, with a Stripe point of sale app for Shopify mentioned as the first.

Apple also states that other payment platforms and apps will be added to the Tap to Pay list later in 2022 and that it will work with most major credit cards that offer contactless payments, such as American Express and Visa.

It goes on to state that "Apple will work closely with leading payment platforms and app developers across the payments and commerce industry to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to millions of merchants in the US." However, there's no mention of what the terms might be for these third-party payment platforms to utilize Apple's Tap to Pay functionality.

Contactless tap to pay with iPhone

Apple

Merchants will be able to accept contactless payments simply by opening up an iOS app that supports it then tapping it against the customer's iOS device, contactless card, or digital wallet. The transaction will then proceed using the NFC technology already built into recent iPhone models (iPhone XS and newer), Apple Watches, and other contactless payment methods.

For now, Tap to Pay doesn't have a specified availability date, but Apple has stated that an upcoming iOS beta will open the option up to participating platforms and their partners. It also plans to roll out Tap to Pay in Apple Stores in the US later this year.

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