Apple Pay Launches in Hungary and Luxembourg

Tuesday May 21, 2019 3:21 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple Pay officially launched in Hungary and Luxembourg today, enabling bank card holders there to use Apple's mobile payment system for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch wherever they see the contactless logo.


In Luxembourg, BGL BNP Paribas is currently the sole bank supporting Apple's digital wallet, while OTP Bank is supporting ‌Apple Pay‌ in Hungary. Apple's regional websites for Luxembourg and Hungary both highlight 12 major retail chains that accept the mobile payment system, including Apple resellers in the two countries.

The expansion within Europe follows the launch of ‌Apple Pay‌ in Iceland earlier this month. Elsewhere, regional banks in The Netherlands and Portugal have teased that Apple's contactless payment system is "coming soon."

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that ‌Apple Pay‌ would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, so the rollout is well on track, although Apple's website has yet to be updated with the full list. ‌Apple Pay‌ first launched in the United States in October 2014.

Tags: Apple Pay, Luxembourg, Hungary
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Baymowe335
7 months ago

Yes which makes you wonder, why? Nearly 5 years and it is still not a Global Roll Out.

Wondering if you have any idea how this works...
Rating: 6 Votes
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MLVC
7 months ago

The rate of Apple Pay rollout really shows the Euro-peons how much Apple cares about them. It's like getting the leftovers from the US table, with the choicest bits always going to the UK and Nordic countries first. What about Apple Pay Cash? Expected to launch before or after 2025? At the same time Apple keeps sucking up to the Chinese market which basically does not care about Apple services – e.g. iPhone users don't know what iMessages are, Apple Pay was a giant flop, everyone's just constantly using a smartphone emulator app called WeChat and people only buy Apple gadgets for bragging rights.


Bit unfair to put the blame solely on Apple while European banks are at least as much to blame for the slow rollout.
Rating: 4 Votes
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ksec
7 months ago

Apple Pay is on fire recently.


Yes which makes you wonder, why? Nearly 5 years and it is still not a Global Roll Out.
Rating: 3 Votes
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catean
7 months ago

Hungary is very poor, they need this really?
The most of the iOS user base is come from low class people there, they even take bad “rip-off” loans just to have an iPhone.

Have some respect for a beautiful country, with lovely people that meets all european standards. Budapest is a world class city and the entire country is full of history and culture.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Heineken
7 months ago
Apple Pay is on fire recently.
Rating: 3 Votes
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maartenz95
7 months ago
"AAAAAAAARGH" - frustrated dutchie
Rating: 2 Votes
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rmoliv
7 months ago

The rate of Apple Pay rollout really shows the Euro-peons how much Apple cares about them. It's like getting the leftovers from the US table, with the choicest bits always going to the UK and Nordic countries first. What about Apple Pay Cash? Expected to launch before or after 2025? At the same time Apple keeps sucking up to the Chinese market which basically does not care about Apple services – e.g. iPhone users don't know what iMessages are, Apple Pay was a giant flop, everyone's just constantly using a smartphone emulator app called WeChat and people only buy Apple gadgets for bragging rights.


The banks are to blame as well. My bank doesn’t seem to want Apple Pay. They have their own in-app wallet service and blame it on Apple that iPhone users can’t make NFC payments through it because Apple doesn’t allow NFC to work in third-party apps. So apparently if they don’t come to an agreement of some sort I’ll have to open an account in the only bank that has already teased Apple Pay, which is a minor bank, or resort to Monese or N26.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Cristim74
7 months ago
Really looking forward to the Apple Pay launch in Romania in the coming months!
ING, BT, Orange Money and Edenred have already announced support.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Sasparilla
7 months ago
Apple is adding new country's constantly, really great to see. Obviously they have multiple teams doing this at the same time.

As a check, Google has 29 countries ('https://support.google.com/pay/answer/7454247') or so.

Yes which makes you wonder, why? Nearly 5 years and it is still not a Global Roll Out.


But then you think, oh, they have to negotiate with each country's financial system (often the banks in addition to the governments) and realize that yeah it would take forever to get through that process.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Mutepointer
7 months ago
I had no idea that Hungary will be so famous about contactless payments.

('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/21/apple-pay-launches-in-hungary-and-luxembourg/')


Apple Pay officially launched in Hungary and Luxembourg today, enabling bank card holders there to use Apple's mobile payment system for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch wherever they see the contactless logo.



In Luxembourg, BGL BNP Paribas is currently the sole bank supporting Apple's digital wallet, while OTP Bank is supporting Apple Pay in Hungary. Apple's regional websites for Luxembourg ('https://www.apple.com/lu/apple-pay/') and Hungary ('https://www.apple.com/hu/apple-pay/') both highlight 12 major retail chains that accept the mobile payment system, including Apple resellers in the two countries.

The expansion within Europe follows the launch of Apple Pay in Iceland ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/08/apple-pay-launches-in-iceland/') earlier this month. Elsewhere, regional banks in The Netherlands and Portugal have teased that Apple's contactless payment system is "coming soon."

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that Apple Pay would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, so the rollout is well on track, although Apple's website ('https://support.apple.com/hu-hu/HT207957') has yet to be updated with the full list. Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014.

Article Link: Apple Pay Launches in Hungary and Luxembourg ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/21/apple-pay-launches-in-hungary-and-luxembourg/')

Rating: 2 Votes

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