Apple Pay Nearing Launch in Hungary and Luxembourg

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.

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. :-))

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.

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.

I'd like to know that as well, so I can check when they're doing this for the Netherlands!

How do you check that? Can I check it?

Trade secret :D

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.
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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.
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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.

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.

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.

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

The wallet app only shows you the amount in the local currency of the country where you're making the payment; for currency exchange, you will need to check your bank statement. Also, the transaction is only displayed in the recent transaction list after the payment has been made, at which time you may also get a push notification if you have that enabled (for Apple Watch, both the notification and recent transaction list view were only enabled in WatchOS 5).

For example in Mexico, where I use Apple Pay all the time (unofficially, that is), every time I pay I only see the amount in MX$ (Mexico pesos). If I want to know the exchange rate to US dollars (US is the issuing country of the card I use on Apple Pay), I do have to check my bank statement where the purchase amount will be listed both in the US dollars equivalent amount and in MX pesos.
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So envious of that. The USA is a lot better than it has been but it's definitely not like when I'm overseas and can use Apple Pay in so many more businesses than I'm used to.

Yeah, like sit down restaurants. You can use Apple Pay at sit down restaurants overseas, but not at the ones in the US where they still have to take away the cards to process payment (the only country on earth still doing so)
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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.

It's even crazier how long they're holding out in Mexico. I've been using Apple Pay in Mexico for three years with a US based card, but with no sign of Apple Pay becoming official in the country, It looks like our banks are going to get past the 6-year mark without budging (no doubt they will break the 5-year mark, since that's later this year and by now it's clear enough that Mexico won't get Apple Pay this year).
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Finally! I'm used to Hungary only getting Apple services years later than everyone else, but Apple Pay would be really nice. I believe my iPhone SE has NFC so it should work?

Yes the iPhone SE is compatible with Apple Pay.