Apple Inc. is reportedly preparing to launch its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by the end of 2026. According to reports, the iPhone maker is already in talks with global card networks such as Visa and Mastercard and is working on securing regulatory approvals required to operate in the country.&nbsp;If launched, Apple Pay will allow iPhone and Apple Watch users in India to make contactless payments using their devices, marking Apple’s first major push into India’s fast-growing digital payments market.&nbsp;<h2>Apple Pay’s India entry</h2>Apple Pay’s India entry is expected to follow a cautious and phased approach. In the first stage, the service will focus on card-based contactless payments. Users will be able to add their debit or credit cards issued by Indian banks to the Apple Wallet and pay by tapping their device on NFC-enabled payment terminals.&nbsp;This model mirrors Apple Pay’s rollout in several other countries and helps Apple avoid immediate integration with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which involves complex technical and regulatory challenges.&nbsp;According to industry sources, Apple is currently engaging with Indian regulators and payment partners to ensure compliance with local rules before the service goes live.&nbsp;<h2>UPI integration remains a future option</h2>UPI integration is not expected at launch but could be considered later. Adding UPI would require approvals from multiple regulators and coordination with India’s payments ecosystem, which is dominated by bank-led platforms and government-backed systems.&nbsp;Reports also suggest Apple is also discussing transaction fee structures with card issuers, an important factor in a market where digital payments are largely low-cost or free for users.&nbsp;Experts say Apple may choose to first test user adoption with card payments before deciding whether to invest in deeper UPI integration.&nbsp;<h2>Why India matters to Apple’s services&nbsp;</h2>India has become one of Apple’s fastest-growing markets. The company recently recorded its highest-ever iPhone shipments in the country and has been expanding its manufacturing and retail presence.&nbsp;The possible Apple Pay launch fits into Apple’s wider plan to grow its services business in India. The company recently introduced Apple Fitness+ in the country and continues to promote subscriptions such as Apple Music and iCloud.&nbsp;As smartphone usage and digital payments continue to rise in India, Apple Pay could become a key part of Apple’s long-term strategy in the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Apple Pay is likely to launch in India by end-2026, starting with card-based contactless payments on iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple is in talks with Visa and Mastercard, while UPI integration may come later as part of a phased services expansion.

Apple Inc. is reportedly preparing to launch its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by the end of 2026. According to reports, the iPhone maker is already in talks with global card networks such as Visa and Mastercard and is working on securing regulatory approvals required to operate in the country. If launched, Apple Pay will allow iPhone and Apple Watch users in India to make contactless payments using their devices, marking Apple’s first major push into India’s fast-growing digital payments market. Apple Pay’s India entry Apple Pay’s India entry is expected to follow a cautious and phased approach. In the first stage, the service will focus on card-based contactless payments. Users will be able to add their debit or credit cards issued by Indian banks to the Apple Wallet and pay by tapping their device on NFC-enabled payment terminals. This model mirrors Apple Pay’s rollout in several other countries and helps Apple avoid immediate integration with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which involves complex technical and regulatory challenges. According to industry sources, Apple is currently engaging with Indian regulators and payment partners to ensure compliance with local rules before the service goes live. UPI integration remains a future option UPI integration is not expected at launch but could be considered later. Adding UPI would require approvals from multiple regulators and coordination with India’s payments ecosystem, which is dominated by bank-led platforms and government-backed systems. Reports also suggest Apple is also discussing transaction fee structures with card issuers, an important factor in a market where digital payments are largely low-cost or free for users. Experts say Apple may choose to first test user adoption with card payments before deciding whether to invest in deeper UPI integration. Why India matters to Apple’s services India has become one of Apple’s fastest-growing markets. The company recently recorded its highest-ever iPhone shipments in the country and has been expanding its manufacturing and retail presence. The possible Apple Pay launch fits into Apple’s wider plan to grow its services business in India. The company recently introduced Apple Fitness+ in the country and continues to promote subscriptions such as Apple Music and iCloud. As smartphone usage and digital payments continue to rise in India, Apple Pay could become a key part of Apple’s long-term strategy in the market.

Apple Pay is likely to launch in India by end-2026, starting with card-based contactless payments on iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple is in talks with Visa and Mastercard, while UPI integration may come later as part of a phased services expansion.

Expanding payment options: Apple Pay may launch in India by 2026

Apple Inc stated on Monday that it will end its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) service, Apple Pay Later, in the United States as it prepares to introduce a new lending program. Users will be able to receive instalment loans using credit and debit cards, as well as various lenders, while paying with Apple Pay beginning later this year, according to the business.<o:p></o:p>

"This solution will enable us to bring flexible payments to more users, in more places across the globe in collaboration with Apple Pay-enabled banks and lenders," said Apple.<o:p></o:p>

The move is part of Apple's overall goal to improve its financial services offering. In comparison to the current BNPL service, the new program&nbsp;is expected to provide users with more flexibility and options.<o:p></o:p>

Despite the closure of Apple Pay Later, current users with open loans can continue manage and pay them using the Wallet app. Apple Pay Later, which was introduced to a restricted group of users in March of last year, allowed customers to split purchases into four instalments over six weeks without incurring any interest or fees.<o:p></o:p>

The decision to discontinue the BNPL service in favour of the new loan program represents a fundamental shift in Apple's approach to consumer financing. Apple Pay's integration with credit and debit cards, as well as partnerships with established lenders, promises to deliver a more comprehensive and accessible financial service.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Agencies)

Apple Inc stated on Monday that it will end its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) service, Apple Pay Later, in the United States as it prepares to introduce a new lending program.

Apple Inc stated on Monday that it will end its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) service, Apple Pay Later, in the United States as it prepares to introduce a new lending program. Users will be able to receive instalment loans using credit and debit cards, as well as various lenders, while paying with Apple Pay beginning later this year, according to the business. "This solution will enable us to bring flexible payments to more users, in more places across the globe in collaboration with Apple Pay-enabled banks and lenders," said Apple. The move is part of Apple's overall goal to improve its financial services offering. In comparison to the current BNPL service, the new program is expected to provide users with more flexibility and options. Despite the closure of Apple Pay Later, current users with open loans can continue manage and pay them using the Wallet app. Apple Pay Later, which was introduced to a restricted group of users in March of last year, allowed customers to split purchases into four instalments over six weeks without incurring any interest or fees. The decision to discontinue the BNPL service in favour of the new loan program represents a fundamental shift in Apple's approach to consumer financing. Apple Pay's integration with credit and debit cards, as well as partnerships with established lenders, promises to deliver a more comprehensive and accessible financial service. (With inputs from Agencies)

Apple to discontinue BNPL service in the US, introduces new loan program

The European Union on Monday accused Apple of blocking its rivals from its "tap-as-you-go" payment system.

In a move seen as a new front in the battle on mobile payment, the European Union said the phone giant "excluded others from the game" as it "unfairly shielded its Apple Pay wallets from competition".

The block emphasised that it is a "preliminary conclusion" and proved that it would mean the US company "abused" its position in the market which is illegal.

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The European Commission accused iPhone of&nbsp;blocking competitors from&nbsp;procuring&nbsp;hardware and software while trying to "benefit" Apple Pay as it restricted access to its NFC chip technology.

"We have indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said.

Watch:&nbsp;Apple hits $3 trillion market valuation

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Apple could be fined heavily by the EU if the charges are proven.

The anti-trust regulator said it has sent its objections to Apple as the company defended its position saying that Apple Pay is "one of many options" for consumers and that it had ensured equal access to NFC as it allowed "industry-leading standards for privacy and security" even as it asserted that it would work continue to work with the EU body.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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The European Union on Monday accused Apple of blocking its rivals from its "tap-as-you-go" payment system. In a move seen as a new front in the battle on mobile payment, the European Union said the phone giant "excluded others from the game" as it "unfairly shielded its Apple Pay wallets from competition".

The European Union on Monday accused Apple of blocking its rivals from its "tap-as-you-go" payment system. In a move seen as a new front in the battle on mobile payment, the European Union said the phone giant "excluded others from the game" as it "unfairly shielded its Apple Pay wallets from competition". The block emphasised that it is a "preliminary conclusion" and proved that it would mean the US company "abused" its position in the market which is illegal. Also Read: Apple just released iOS15.4 update with 37 new emojis, and netizens are not pleased The European Commission accused iPhone of blocking competitors from procuring hardware and software while trying to "benefit" Apple Pay as it restricted access to its NFC chip technology. "We have indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said. Watch: Apple hits $3 trillion market valuation Apple could be fined heavily by the EU if the charges are proven. The anti-trust regulator said it has sent its objections to Apple as the company defended its position saying that Apple Pay is "one of many options" for consumers and that it had ensured equal access to NFC as it allowed "industry-leading standards for privacy and security" even as it asserted that it would work continue to work with the EU body. (With inputs from Agencies) Watch WION LIVE Here

'Apple unfairly shielded its pay wallets': EU's antitrust case

Tech giant Apple has introduced a new feature that will transform iPhones into payment terminals.

Bypassing hardware systems such as Block Inc's Square terminals, it will allow businesses to accept credit card and digital payments with just a tap on their iPhones.

"The new capability will empower millions of merchants across the US, from small businesses to large retailers, to use their iPhone" to accept payments, Apple said in a statement.

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Contactless, or tap-to-pay, payment systems have long been popular outside the US as the default way of paying for goods and services. But tap-to-pay has grown in popularity in the US in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when customers and merchants wanted to avoid as much physical interaction with cash and cards as possible.&nbsp;

The tap-to-pay feature will use the iPhone’s existing NFC chip that was being used to transmit payments down to a payment terminal. It will be available to developers via an iOS software update this spring. It will be up to developers and payment-services companies to add the capability to their point-of-sale software.

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Stressing on the services privacy feature, the iPhone-maker said it would not know what was being purchased or who was buying it, stressing on the services privacy feature.

It will also give Apple a competitive edge in the growing world of contactless payments, in which the iPhone, as well as Apple Pay, play a dominant role by effectively turning the iPhone into a point-of-sale terminal.

The feature will only be available on iPhones XS or later, Apple said, and will not be available on iPads.&nbsp;

Payments platform Stripe will in the spring be the first to offer the "tap to pay" system to their business customers, Apple noted, with others expected to follow later this year.

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"Whether you're a salesperson at an internet-first retailer or an individual entrepreneur, you can soon accept contactless payments on a device that's already in your pocket: your iPhone," said Billy Alvarado, Stripe's chief business officer.

"Apple views payments as an important standalone business for the company and they are looking to leverage it," said Shannon Cross, analyst at Cross Research.

"Them venturing into contactless payments is an indication on how important payments are as a business for the company."

The iPhone has been used as a contactless way to pay for goods and services since Apple Pay launched in 2014. But it required merchants to have their own point-of-sale hardware in order to accept contactless payments.

Apple is not the first to turn its flagship smartphone into a payment terminal without requiring additional equipment: South Korea's Samsung launched a similar offer in October 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tech giant Apple has introduced a new feature that will transform iPhones into payment terminals. Bypassing hardware systems such as Block Inc's Square terminals, it will allow businesses to accept credit card and digital payments with just a tap on their iPhones.

Tech giant Apple has introduced a new feature that will transform iPhones into payment terminals. Bypassing hardware systems such as Block Inc's Square terminals, it will allow businesses to accept credit card and digital payments with just a tap on their iPhones. "The new capability will empower millions of merchants across the US, from small businesses to large retailers, to use their iPhone" to accept payments, Apple said in a statement. Contactless, or tap-to-pay, payment systems have long been popular outside the US as the default way of paying for goods and services. But tap-to-pay has grown in popularity in the US in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when customers and merchants wanted to avoid as much physical interaction with cash and cards as possible. The tap-to-pay feature will use the iPhone’s existing NFC chip that was being used to transmit payments down to a payment terminal. It will be available to developers via an iOS software update this spring. It will be up to developers and payment-services companies to add the capability to their point-of-sale software. Also read | No more facial recognition? Apple AirPods might be able to recognise the user by checking ear canal Stressing on the services privacy feature, the iPhone-maker said it would not know what was being purchased or who was buying it, stressing on the services privacy feature. It will also give Apple a competitive edge in the growing world of contactless payments, in which the iPhone, as well as Apple Pay, play a dominant role by effectively turning the iPhone into a point-of-sale terminal. The feature will only be available on iPhones XS or later, Apple said, and will not be available on iPads. Payments platform Stripe will in the spring be the first to offer the "tap to pay" system to their business customers, Apple noted, with others expected to follow later this year. Also read | New pregnant emojis to make dramatic appearance on Apple iPhones; take social media by storm. Find out why "Whether you're a salesperson at an internet-first retailer or an individual entrepreneur, you can soon accept contactless payments on a device that's already in your pocket: your iPhone," said Billy Alvarado, Stripe's chief business officer. "Apple views payments as an important standalone business for the company and they are looking to leverage it," said Shannon Cross, analyst at Cross Research. "Them venturing into contactless payments is an indication on how important payments are as a business for the company." The iPhone has been used as a contactless way to pay for goods and services since Apple Pay launched in 2014. But it required merchants to have their own point-of-sale hardware in order to accept contactless payments. Apple is not the first to turn its flagship smartphone into a payment terminal without requiring additional equipment: South Korea's Samsung launched a similar offer in October 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

Tap-to-pay: Apple introduces new feature that will turn iPhones into payment terminals

Apple Inc rolled out its virtual credit card on Tuesday, working with bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc on the new iPhone add-on that may help Apple diversify from device sales and build out the Wall Street bank's new consumer business.

Apple announced the card in March, aiming to draw in iPhone owners by offering a card with 2% cashback on purchases with the Apple Pay service, no fees, an app to manage related finances, and a focus on data privacy.

For Goldman, the issuing bank, the card builds on a foray into its Marcus consumer banking brand, started in 2015.

Apple said a limited number of consumers who expressed interest in the card will start to receive sign-up invitations on Tuesday.

The card is designed to work with the iPhone, where users sign up for the card and can start using it immediately if approved via the Apple Wallet app and Apple Pay system.

Apple offers an option for a physical card made of titanium, but the physical card has no visible number. Instead, the card's number is stored in a secure chip inside the iPhone, which generates virtual numbers for online or over-the-phone purchases requiring a number.

Apple has focused on privacy, saying that purchase information is stored on the user's iPhone and that it cannot see the information.&nbsp;

Goldman will not be allowed to use data for marketing purposes, even for selling other Goldman products.

Gene Munster, managing partner with Loup Ventures and a longtime Apple watcher, said Apple Card adoption is likely to be low in the first year, but that Apple Card could generate about $1.4 billion of high-margin revenue by 2023, adding about 1.8% to Apple's overall earnings and complementing the much larger Apple Pay business for total payments revenue of $5.38 billion by 2023. Apple has roughly 50 million US Apple Pay users now.

But at Apple's size - $265.6 billion in sales for fiscal 2018 - the revenue matters less than the effect on keeping Apple customers tied to its brand, analysts said, said Ben Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Strategies. 
"If it works, it's one more thing that causes you to stay deeply loyal and entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, even if something better comes along," he said

Apple Inc rolled out its virtual credit card on Tuesday, working with bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc on the new iPhone add-on that may help Apple diversify from device sales and build out the Wall Street bank's new consumer business.

Apple Inc rolled out its virtual credit card on Tuesday, working with bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc on the new iPhone add-on that may help Apple diversify from device sales and build out the Wall Street bank's new consumer business. Apple announced the card in March, aiming to draw in iPhone owners by offering a card with 2% cashback on purchases with the Apple Pay service, no fees, an app to manage related finances, and a focus on data privacy. For Goldman, the issuing bank, the card builds on a foray into its Marcus consumer banking brand, started in 2015. Apple said a limited number of consumers who expressed interest in the card will start to receive sign-up invitations on Tuesday. The card is designed to work with the iPhone, where users sign up for the card and can start using it immediately if approved via the Apple Wallet app and Apple Pay system. Apple offers an option for a physical card made of titanium, but the physical card has no visible number. Instead, the card's number is stored in a secure chip inside the iPhone, which generates virtual numbers for online or over-the-phone purchases requiring a number. Apple has focused on privacy, saying that purchase information is stored on the user's iPhone and that it cannot see the information. Goldman will not be allowed to use data for marketing purposes, even for selling other Goldman products. Gene Munster, managing partner with Loup Ventures and a longtime Apple watcher, said Apple Card adoption is likely to be low in the first year, but that Apple Card could generate about $1.4 billion of high-margin revenue by 2023, adding about 1.8% to Apple's overall earnings and complementing the much larger Apple Pay business for total payments revenue of $5.38 billion by 2023. Apple has roughly 50 million US Apple Pay users now. But at Apple's size - $265.6 billion in sales for fiscal 2018 - the revenue matters less than the effect on keeping Apple customers tied to its brand, analysts said, said Ben Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Strategies. "If it works, it's one more thing that causes you to stay deeply loyal and entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, even if something better comes along," he said

Apple, Goldman Sachs start issuing Apple Cards to consumers

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Expanding payment options: Apple Pay may launch in India by 2026

Apple to discontinue BNPL service in the US, introduces new loan program

'Apple unfairly shielded its pay wallets': EU's antitrust case

Tap-to-pay: Apple introduces new feature that will turn iPhones into payment terminals

Apple, Goldman Sachs start issuing Apple Cards to consumers