Apple Pay Nearing Launch in Hungary and Luxembourg

Friday May 10, 2019 9:13 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple Pay has been gradually expanding across Europe and the Middle East, launching in Poland, Norway, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Iceland over the last year. Now, we have learned that the service will likely roll out in Hungary and Luxembourg in the near future.


MacRumors has spotted the usual server-side changes that Apple makes shortly before expanding Apple Pay to new regions — in this case, Hungary and Luxembourg. The service could launch in both countries within days.

Luxembourg bank BGL BNP Paribas already confirmed that Apple Pay is coming soon to the small European country, but this is the first we've heard about Hungary. Apple Pay will also be available soon in the Netherlands as well as Romania, Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, and Slovenia, according to banks ING and N26.

Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014 and has since expanded to dozens of countries and territories. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that Apple Pay will be available in more than 40 regions by the end of 2019.

Apple Pay can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: Luxembourg, Hungary
28 comments


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TheAustrianGuy
2 weeks ago
Apple Pay is so unbelievably slick - I haven‘t paid for anything with anything else but Apple Pay since it launched here a couple weeks ago.

I’m happy for everybody who already has it or will get it soon.
Rating: 6 Votes
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DennisdeWit
2 weeks ago

Is there any indication on whether it is related to the apple pay launch in the NL?

I don’t see NL yet. Just wait some longer. I’ve made a script in PHP with Pushover that will send me a push notification as soon as NL appears in the beta file or the final file.
Rating: 3 Votes
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DennisdeWit
2 weeks ago

How do you check that? Can I check it?

Sure you can.

https://smp-device-content.apple.com/static/region/v2/config-beta.json

The beta file. :-))
Rating: 3 Votes
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mgroot
2 weeks ago
I'd like to know that as well, so I can check when they're doing this for the Netherlands!
Rating: 2 Votes
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nikusak
2 weeks ago

I myself don't see much in Apple Pay, I can pay as fast if not faster with my card, have it in my hand before checkout, tap and done.

For small purchases yes, but you can’t do that for bigger purchases.

Apple Pay works regardless of the purchase amount, in most countries anyway.

I find it very convenient not having to dig out my card from somewhere. Outside winter my wallet and phone is usually in my backpack - but Apple Watch is on my wrist.
Rating: 2 Votes
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JepGambardella
2 weeks ago



MacRumors has spotted the usual server-side changes that Apple makes shortly before expanding Apple Pay to new regions -- in this case, Hungary and Luxembourg.


How do you check that? Can I check it?
Rating: 1 Votes
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justperry
2 weeks ago

Could be. But they do so every few weeks.


Just kidding...:)

Soon could be months, IIRC it was announced for a certain country and they still had to wait close to half a year, might have been Germany, could be wrong though.

I myself don't see much in Apple Pay, I can pay as fast if not faster with my card, have it in my hand before checkout, tap and done.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Robert.Walter
2 weeks ago

I bet if Visa/MC cut interchange on contactless transactions (maybe not all the way down to EU levels, but say, a few tens of bpp compared to chip/swipe), I bet merchants will fall over themselves to promote it. Of course, that would probably just cause them to have to continually cut interchange every time the US tries to adopt a payment technology 10-15 years after everyone else, hence why they aren't doing it.


You have it backwards. They just need to start charging significantly more for swipe. They could do this in steps. Ultimately, i think, it will take legislation to kill swipe.
[doublepost=1557589322][/doublepost]

Just kidding...:)

Soon could be months, IIRC it was announced for a certain country and they still had to wait close to half a year, might have been Germany, could be wrong though.

I myself don't see much in Apple Pay, I can pay as fast if not faster with my card, have it in my hand before checkout, tap and done.

You need to inform yourself better about the basics of AP, then think about the problems related to losing a plastic card with your acct number on it.
[doublepost=1557589481][/doublepost]

Apple Pay is so unbelievably slick - I haven‘t paid for anything with anything else but Apple Pay since it launched here a couple weeks ago.

I’m happy for everybody who already has it or will get it soon.

It’s crazy how long your banks held out. I’ve been using AP w a US based credit card when in Austria for 4 years.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Joe Rossignol
2 weeks ago

How do you check that? Can I check it?

Trade secret :D
Rating: 1 Votes
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TrulsZK
2 weeks ago

If you use Apple Pay in a foreign country, does it show you the amount with exchange rate in your own currency before purchase?


In general no, it will behave exactly the same as it does in your home country.

If you get the option to pay in your local currency or the local currency in the country you are currently in. Apple Pay will show the amount in the currency you selected to pay in, no conversion rate etc.

If you do not get the option, or select to pay in the local currency. Apple Pay will show the amount you paid, in the local currency, again no conversion rate, etc.

To check the exchange rate you must check your mobile bank app or bank statement.
Rating: 1 Votes
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