Apple Pay will be launching in the United Kingdom next month
Apple plans to launch its mobile payments service in the United Kingdom next month and will be linking with the loyalty cards provided by some retailers. The company has established a strong position in the mobile payments space in a relatively short amount of time. Apple Pay launched in the U.S. in October of last year, with the service being supported by a strong partnership with several prominent retailers. The company has been looking to expand its service into new markets, but this process has been relatively slow.
Companies are showing strong support for the mobile payments service
Pinterest and Discover Card will be working with Apple for the launch of Apple Pay in the UK. Apple will also be adding store debit cards to its mobile payments system, which will allow Apple Pay to be accepted at more than 1 million locations worldwide next month. In the UK, Apple Pay is expected to be accepted at more than 250,000 locations, and will also be used to pay for public transportation services.
UK is becoming a dynamic market for mobile payments
The UK has become a very attractive mobile payments market. Many consumers have become enthralled with the concept of mobile transactions, as it is more convenient for them than conventional forms of commerce. Being able to shop online from a mobile device allows people to purchase products wherever they are and at any time, as online stores do not close. This is a trend that is being seen throughout the world. According to a recent study from Forrester Research, global mobile sales are expected to reach $142 billion by 2019.
Apple to compete with other companies operating in the mobile space
Apple will be competing with several other companies that have already managed to establish a foothold in the United Kingdom. Apple Pay has already generated significant hype, with many consumers being excited for the service’s eventual launch in the UK. Merchants have also shown great interest in mobile payments and may see great benefit in supporting the new service from Apple.
New point-of-sale system will support mobile transactions made through various services
Sweden’s iZettle, a developer of point-of-sale systems, has launched a new mobile point-of-sale product that is meant to work with both chip and PIN mobile payments. The product has an emphasis on Apple Pay and similar payment services. These services have become quite popular with consumers because they allow people to make payments with their mobile devices. This is considered a convenient way to pay for products, but there are relatively few mobile point-of-sale systems that are available in the retail space.
Global launch of new system expected to occur later this year
Growing demand for these systems has lead iZettle and other companies to develop new products that can accommodate changing trends in the retail space. The company’s new system, called the Card Reader Pro Contactless, will be distributed to select partners in the United Kingdom. A broader launch will come in June. Global launch will occur in the following months. The system itself costs approximately $122, with price variations depending on certain markets.
Small retailers may find benefit in iZettle’s new product
The new system may be particularly useful to small companies that are interested in mobile payments. Small retailers have been slow to embrace mobile payments because of the costs associated with converting conventional point-of-sale systems into mobile capable systems. Smaller retailers want to engage mobile consumers, but do not necessarily have a way to support mobile payments. The new point-of-sale system could help solve this problem by giving these retailers the tool they need to finally break into the mobile space.
System could be an effective way for retailers to engage mobile consumers
The mobile system will support numerous mobile payments apps, including Google Wallet. The system is meant to cater to the convenience of mobile payments and allow both retailers and consumers an easy and effective way to engage in a new form of commerce that has emerged as a result of mobile technology. Of course, iZettle is not the only company to bring a mobile point-of-sale system to the market, so it will have to compete with others in the retail space to find success.
