Tag: apple mobile payments

While the service can be used at a physical store checkout counter, early adopters are using it as they shop over smartphones.

Mobile payments have been an area of considerable controversy, as some feel that this technology will rapidly take over plastic debit and credit cards, while others doubt that it will go anywhere because people are content with what they have, but where most seem to agree is that no matter the direction of the future, Apple Pay will be at the head of it – at least throughout the early years.

Now that the iPhone’s mobile wallet is available, the trends and potential for this type of service are becoming clearer.

So far, Apple Pay has shown to be quite popular among early adopters. The launch was fairly recent, as it occurred last October, and the number of people who have the necessary equipment to actually use the service is limited – as only the latest versions of the iPhone (6 and 6 Plus) are compatible – but so far, the owners of those devices who have enabled the service are using it. That said, they’re not necessarily making their purchases with their mobile wallets while in physical shopping locations. Instead, they are making m-commerce purchases with their iPhones.

This has caused many retailers to ensure that they have an Apple Pay option on their only checkouts.

Among those that have been benefitting from Apple’s mobile wallet is SeatGeek, a search app for sports and concert tickets. Its checkout screen has been updated to accept payments via iPhone and it has now seen an increase in its conversion rates by 30 percent. Those that have been specifically through Apple’s wallet have represented an 80 percent increase.

According to Jack Groetzinger, the cofounder of SeatGeek, Apple’s mobile wallet “is convenient in a physical store, but you’re never going to Wal-Mart because of Apple Pay. It’s a triviality.” That said, he pointed out that “But you are going to buy tickets on SeatGeek with Apple Pay in a case where you wouldn’t have otherwise. That’s huge.”

Indiegogo, the crowdfunding site, has seen a similar type of response, according to its chief executive officer, Slava Rubin. That site’s campaigns have seen conversion rates increase by 2.5 times when using the Apple wallet for the transaction. Rubin saw that type of mobile payments as an important opportunity for the site and has included it on the site since it was first launched.

Report suggests that Apple Pay could launch in Canada by March

Apple Pay may be coming to Canada sooner than expected, according to reports from 9to5Mac. The mobile payments service from Apple was launched last year, but is currently only available in the United States and a small number of other regions where U.S. card issuers operate. The report suggests that Apple Pay could come to the Canadian market as soon as March of this year, which will give Canadian consumers with iOS devices a chance to make payments from their smartphones.

Demand for mobile payment services is rising in Canada

Apple has been working to expand its new mobile payments service to other markets around the world, but has not yet announced definitive plans on which markets will receive the service first. Canada may be the most likely country to gain access to Apple Pay, as the mobile payments market therein is currently experiencing a period of strong growth. The demand for mobile payment support throughout Canada has been rising, and Canadians are beginning to use their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products more regularly.

Canadian companies may be in negotiations with Apple to partner for launch of new payment service

Canadian retailers and banks are reportedly in negotiations with Apple to bring the mobile payments service to the country in the near future. The report from 9to5Mac suggests that these companies are already preparing advertising campaigns and promotional material for the launch of Apple Pay in March. The report notes that these negotiations are still in an active state, so a launch has not been finalized. If negotiations fail, Apple Pay may not come to the country until later in the year.

Apple continues to expand mobile payments service throughout the US

Apple has been expanding its service in the United States somewhat aggressively. The company recently brought on new partners for its mobile payments service, allowing more people to use the service at physical stores. Thus far, the service has managed to find modest success, but not enough to make it a mainstream tool among consumers participating in mobile payments.