Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Apple Pay Launches in Spain for American Express and Banco de Santander Customers
Apple Pay today launched in Spain, marking the 13th country where the mobile wallet service is available for Apple customers. The news follows a report published yesterday by Spanish website Applesfera that said Apple Pay would launch in the country on December 1.
Today, Apple Pay's availability in Spain began through a partnership with Amex and Banco de Santander. Credit and debit cards issued by Carrefour and Ticket Restaurant are also accepted. The full list of Apple Pay retail partners and compatible apps can be found on Apple's Spanish website.
After today, Apple Pay is now available in the U.S., UK, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Japan, and New Zealand. Most recently, Apple Pay launched in Japan with the support of the country's widely adopted FeliCa payments standard, meaning only iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2 models that are sold in the country can be used for Apple Pay transactions there.
Today, Apple Pay's availability in Spain began through a partnership with Amex and Banco de Santander. Credit and debit cards issued by Carrefour and Ticket Restaurant are also accepted. The full list of Apple Pay retail partners and compatible apps can be found on Apple's Spanish website.
Banco Santander today brings its customers Apple Pay, an easy, secure and private way to pay that’s fast and convenient. Santander is the first Spanish financial institution to offer Apple Pay to its customers. Redsys and Mastercard collaborated in the initiative. "Apple Pay shows we are committed to collaborate and to bring innovation and new technology to our customers to make their payments easier, faster and more secure," said Rami Aboukhair, country head of Santander Spain. "We are convinced our customers will love it."At participating retailers, Apple Pay allows customers to pay for meals, clothes, groceries, and other items through a simple one-tap payment solution that uses existing NFC technology, and the service has slowly been adding additional retail partners since its launch in 2014. Apple Pay is also available within some apps, and is now available on the web in iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.
After today, Apple Pay is now available in the U.S., UK, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Japan, and New Zealand. Most recently, Apple Pay launched in Japan with the support of the country's widely adopted FeliCa payments standard, meaning only iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2 models that are sold in the country can be used for Apple Pay transactions there.
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34 months ago
ApplePay has no geographical limitations and works anywhere in the world. If you can find a payment terminal that support contactless payments in Mongolia you can use ApplePay there. The only thing that matters is if your bank supports ApplePay and Apple is rolling the relationships with banks out country-by-country.
When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.
When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.
34 months ago
After having lived in Denmark for several years, I just feel annoyed about how payments are handled here in Germany. We are just so dated in how we handle this stuff... I would love to get Apple Pay!
34 months ago
Slowly, but surely, building domination in digital payments.
The potential user base for the technology overlaps nicely with iPhone's demographic.
The potential user base for the technology overlaps nicely with iPhone's demographic.
34 months ago
ApplePay has no geographical limitations and works anywhere in the world. If you can find a payment terminal that support contactless payments in Mongolia you can use ApplePay there. The only thing that matters is if your bank supports ApplePay and Apple is rolling the relationships with banks out country-by-country.
When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.
But the bank support is the crucial bit to really enable it as a viable payment method in a country.
I see. Thanks for the explanation. Now the question is: Would a "German" Santander credit card be accepted by apple pay if I set the region in my phone to Spain? I can't try it myself right now since Apple is replacing my battery right now...
- It would not. Apple Pay would recognise it as a German card and reject it. Apple Pay also works with HSBC and other international banks in some countries. That doesn't mean it can be used in every country where those banks operate.
34 months ago
Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.
Yes, I was in Berlin two weeks ago and was shocked at how hard it was to pay with a normal debit card at many places.The UK is typically slow with these things, and was slow with card payments (or requiring a PIN for card payments!) too. But, and that is also typical for the UK, once it got accepted it suddenly went at breakneck speed. I think it's been months since I last had cash in my wallet (I am not kidding!).
34 months ago
hi
sorry to ask some basic stuff about apple pay but maybe it fits in this topic.
my country of japan has also introduced apple pay but only accessible if you have iPhone 7 model bought in Japan. i am considering getting the iPhone 7 just for apple pay.
anyway. my questions relate to multiple country use of apple pay.
1 if a card is registered in one country with apple pay and that apple card is used in a different apple pay country, no problem. is this correct?
Dependent on the card. I have a UK visa credit card which did not work in Hong Kong... i last tested it before Apple Pay went live there, but technically it should have worked given the 7-11 accepted visa paywave... anyway i can test it again next time perhaps. I also have a Chinese China UnionPay card registered, and that worked fine in Hong Kong - also before Apple Pay launched there. Different cards emulate themselves in different ways... the only thing you can be certain of is your card working in its country of issue.
2 is your Regional Setting still used as your apple pay country?
No. It's like an on/off switch but doesn't limit you to adding cards from that country. If your region is set to a country without apple pay you can't register any cards. If it's one with apple pay, you can register any cards. Mine is set to the UK and i can add China UnionPay cards successfully if i wish to.
3 But if your Regional Setting is Japan, can apple pay still be used as is, with your Japan based credit card, say, for example, in the USA?
Thats entirely dependent on your credit card and nothing to do with your regional setting. And possibly dependent on whether the apple pay element inside the japanese phones supports payments in Japan in addition to ones in the ROTW or simply in place of it, as the contactless infrastructure is different there. JCB or Suica cards won't work; Visa cards *might*. Or might not.
4 Or, do you need to use a USA Regional Setting and therefore a USA based card in the USA?
Nothing to do with regional setting, as above. Dependent on the things I mentioned above - mostly whether the Japan version of the iphone 7 is world+japan or just... japan.
Sorry for basic questions...
Thanks in advance.
34 months ago
I stopped using Apple Pay because the process is so inconsistent from place to place. One store will make me click an "accept button" one store will have the reader behind the counter, one store won't have any clue what Apple Pay is (even some that accept it had no idea what it was when I asked) It needs time to mature...like, a long time.
Sometimes you sign, sometimes you dip, sometimes you chip. Does that stop you from using a creditcard? Strange reason from stopping Apple Pay.
34 months ago
Looking forward to see this in the Netherlands. Today, however, I would be hungry as I left my iPhone at the charger at home and would not be able to buy my lunch :)
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Because the big players perhaps are not looking for this right now, making Apple reach out to the small one's who think they might benefit from AP.
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Yes I know, I remember that in the 90th while e-banking was wide spread, German suppliers would favor a written check over an electronic payment.
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What's that "Cash"????
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How funny! Literally no shop takes american express in Spain. Why does Apple Pay only get release in niches?
Because the big players perhaps are not looking for this right now, making Apple reach out to the small one's who think they might benefit from AP.
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After having lived in Denmark for several years, I just feel annoyed about how payments are handled here in Germany. We are just so dated in how we handle this stuff... I would love to get Apple Pay!
Yes I know, I remember that in the 90th while e-banking was wide spread, German suppliers would favor a written check over an electronic payment.
[doublepost=1480601002][/doublepost]
Yes, I was in Berlin two weeks ago and was shocked at how hard it was to pay with a normal debit card at many places.
The UK is typically slow with these things, and was slow with card payments (or requiring a PIN for card payments!) too. But, and that is also typical for the UK, once it got accepted it suddenly went at breakneck speed. I think it's been months since I last had cash in my wallet (I am not kidding!).
What's that "Cash"????
34 months ago
I'm in the same boat! I'm so annoyed by the German's attitude of paying cash.
One idea here though: What if I had a Santander credit card (they're available here too) - can I use that for apple pay in Germany?mmmh
You wouldn't be able to use a Santander card issued by their German subsidiary. To use Apple Pay you need have a card that is issued within one of the supported countries.
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