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Following the release of iOS 10.1 this morning, Apple has activated Apple Pay in Japan, making it available for use at all locations that accept the Suica prepaid money card, QuicPay, or iD.
Apple Pay in Japan is unique because rather than exclusively using NFC, it also supports the FeliCa payments standard that’s been widely adopted in the country. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models sold in Japan include a FeliCa chip, as do Apple Watch Series 2 models.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users in Japan can now use their iPhones to make purchases in cafes, purchase transit tickets, make purchases in apps and on websites, replace a Suica card, and more.
To use a Suica card with Apple Pay, customers in Japan will need to add their Suica card or Suica commuter card to the Wallet app. Once added, the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus can be used in place of a standard card.
Apple Pay in Japan works with credit and debit cards issued by American Express, JCB, Mastercard, Aeon Financial, Orico, Credit Saison, SoftBank, d Card, View Card, MUFG Card, and more.
An iPhone 7, 7 Plus, or Apple Watch Series 2 is required to make purchases in stores and at transportation facilities in Japan. The iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and SE, along with iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2, and the iPad mini 3 and later, can be used to make payments within apps and on the web.
Apple Pay is now available in 12 countries, including the U.S., UK, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Japan.
Top Rated Comments
This will absolutely drive increased iPhone sales in Japan.
I got the impression from a previous story that it was Japanese models only.
Adding support for it outside of Japan is not going to happen because that would be millions of phones that need additional licensing fees to someone else.I don't enough about the Suica system to know if it is straightforward NFC, and therefore compatible with all iPhones with Apple Pay.
Would definitely be a bonus for visitors to Japan.. if there was an easy way to add Suica to your iPhone wallet. You then barely need to obtain any local Yen currency!
Sorry, trying to understand this. So you're saying if I have a Japanese unlocked iPhone 7, I do a factory reset on it and activate it with a foreign SIM, then change the SIM to my regular Japanese SIM, I could bypass the photo shutter?
No. It only works if the first SIM card used to activate the phone is non-Japanese.Legally required; but silent with live picture ... ;)
Not to split hairs, but it's not legally required here. Also, live pictures are great, but don't help when you're taking a screenshot on a train, etc ...