Intended for professionals, this novelty is not a surprise, but should make life easier for small businesses.
After being among the first to democratize contactless payment with Apple Pay, the Apple brand has just announced the arrival of a new platform dedicated to contactless transactions, this time aimed at professionals. Following recent rumors that wanted to transform iPhones into autonomous payment terminals, the American company has formalized the arrival of “Tap to pay”a contactless payment tool available on iOS.
On the sidelines of individual consumers, who are more and more likely to bet on the dematerialization of their means of payment, the vice-president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet Jennifer Bailey thus explained “Tap to Pay on iPhone will provide businesses with a secure, private and easy way to accept contactless payments (…) using the power, security and convenience of the iPhone”.
An iPhone is enough
With the aim of enabling entrepreneurs and traders “to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business”, Tap to Pay should indeed make the iPhone an independent payment terminal. The feature will only require no material (except an iPhone), and will even be offered to third-party app developers so they can integrate it into their iOS apps. An additional way for Apple to keep an eye on the financial exchanges that pass through its devices, at a time when Tim Cook’s company is cornered by international regulators on the question of its hegemony.
With a planned deployment “later in the year”Tap to Pay should initially be reserved for the American market, where Apple Pay is already authorized at “more than 90% of traders” believes GAFAM. If the first large-scale tests prove conclusive, it will however be necessary to expect to see the technology arrive in Europe. Note that to work, the service will require an iPhone XS or later, and the use of NFC technology.
