Apple Pay to Come to the UK

After setting up Apple Pay in the U.S. last year, Apple announced the launch of Apple Pay in the U.K. The app is expected to be available from next week on July 14th, making the U.K. the second major location to offer this app. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services said, “We’re thrilled to bring Apple Pay to the UK with support at launch from the most popular banks, an incredible roster of merchants and many of our users’ favourite apps.”

At launch, over 250,000 locations will accept Apple Pay, including Transport for London and will be supported by eight of the UK’s banks and across all of the major credit and debit card networks. Currently, Barclays are reviewing whether or not to support Apple.

People who own an iPhone 6 or Apple watch can download the wallet App which is similar to Android pay. To use the service, customers add their payment card details to their Apple account. Customers can then make purchases by touching their iPhone 6 or Apple Watch on a card reader, and Apple will automatically take money from the user’s payment card. On the iPhone 6, there is a button which is marked touch ID. By placing your finger on this, and holding the phone near the contactless reader, payment is made. With the Apple Watch, just double click the side button and hold the face up to the contactless reader to make a purchase right from your wrist. The other Apple devices that are compatible with Apple Pay are iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

For now, Apple Pay has a limit of £20 for a single purchase, but this is expected to rise after a few months. As well as working in shops, purchases can be made online. Apple say that this will be a more secure way to make purchases as they do not share card details with anyone else.

As well as Transport of London, Boots UK, BP, Costa Coffee, Dune, JD Sports, KFC UK & Ireland, Liberty, LIDL, Marks & Spencer (M&S), McDonald’s UK, Nando’s, New Look, Post Office, Pret A Manger, SPAR, Starbucks, SUBWAY stores, Wagamama and Waitrose are other major outlets who are training their staff for the launch.

And amongst the Apps that accept Apple Pay are: – Addison Lee, Airbnb, Argos, Booking.com, British Airways, Domino’s, easyJet, Hailo, HotelTonight, hungryhouse, JD Sports, Just Eat, lastminute.com, Miss Selfridge, Ocado, Stubhub, thetrainline.com, Top 10, Topshop, Uncover, Vueling, YPlan, Zalando and Zara.