Apple announces Tap to Pay in the US: your iPhone as an ATM
American iPhone users can get started with Tap to Pay later this year: you can turn your iPhone into an ATM. This way you receive payments via Apple Pay or a payment card. It is not yet known whether this new feature will also come to the Netherlands.
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Tap to Pay announced for the United States
With Tap to Pay, Apple is primarily targeting small retailers or marketers. Thanks to this technology, they no longer have to invest in a separate pin device. They simply key in the amount due on their iPhone and ask customers to pay contactless. This is possible with another iPhone or Apple Watch, but also with a suitable credit card, debit card or other digital wallet. The payment is made by holding their device or card up to the retailer’s iPhone.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t work with all iPhones. If you have an older model, you will be left out. You need at least a 2018 iPhone XS. For many retailers, however, it saves an extra device or subscription, so they are probably happy to pay for it.
Tap to Pay is an extension of Apple Pay, which you can use in the Netherlands to pay contactless since 2019. It simply works the other way. For now, Apple has only announced the feature in the United States, where users can start using it later this year.
Handy for Marketplace
It is therefore not yet clear whether and when Tap to Pay will come to the Netherlands. It would be very useful. Not only for retailers, but certainly also for private sellers on, for example, Marktplaats.
A small side note is necessary: Tap to Pay is not intended as an alternative to Tikkie. Users are probably not able to send requests to each other, but it is possible for apps like Marktplaats to build in this option.
