Apple Pay (Photo : Reuters)
Apple's contactless payment system, Apple Pay, finally crossed the North Atlantic and made its official debut in the United Kingdom on July 14 just nine months after it was launched in the United States.
U.K.-based owners of the latest iPhone and Apple Watch can now use their device for paying goods and services as well as several transportation modes around London. Upon its launch, the Apple Pay service will be supported by eight banks and more than 250,000 shops in the U.K., according to Apple Insider.
Among the first eight financial institution to support Apple Pay in the U.K. are Ulster Bank, Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland, American Express, HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide and First Direct. Commercial establishments Waitrose, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Lidl were all set to receive transactions made through Apple Pay. Transport for London's bus and rail networks as well as the Tube also supports Apple Pay.
According to The Verge, transactions made through Apple Pay have a £20, roughly US$31, limited. However, the transaction cap will rise to £30, around $45, before the end of the year.
For now, only the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch devices support Apple Pay. Inside these devices is a Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip that can wirelessly communicate with payment terminals installed in supported shops.
To use Apple Pay, the user must first register their credit or debit card to the system. Once registered, paying for services is as simple as putting the iPhone or Apple Watch near a payment terminal and verifying the transaction using the fingerprint scanner. If verification is successful, the payment will be immediately charged on the enrolled card on Apple Pay.
Following the U.K. launch, Apple is planning to expand Apple Pay's coverage by launching it to Canada, China and other major international market.
