Apple today launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in the UK, empowering millions of merchants, from small businesses to large retailers, to use their iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets using only their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed.
Tap to Pay on iPhone is available for payment platforms and app developers in the U.K. to integrate into their iOS apps and offer as a payment acceptance option to their business customers.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, merchants can unlock contactless payment acceptance through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later device running the latest iOS version.
At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.
No additional hardware is needed to accept contactless payments through Tap to Pay on iPhone, so businesses in the U.K. can accept payments from wherever they do business. Apple Pay is already accepted at more than 99 percent of U.K. retailers, and with this new capability, virtually every business, big or small, can use Tap to Pay on iPhone at checkout.
“We’ve seen Tap to Pay on iPhone transform the checkout experience for so many different types of businesses, and we’re thrilled to now support merchants across the U.K. by offering an easy, secure, and private way to accept contactless payments using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone, with no additional hardware needed,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
“Small and medium-sized businesses have long played a vital role in the U.K. economy, and alongside payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for U.K. businesses to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.”
Natwest and Revolut have today rolled out Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone for business and freelance customers in the UK.
Revolut Pro and Business customers can start using Tap to Pay on iPhone directly within the Revolut app or the Revolut Business app.
James Gibson, GM of Revolut Business, comments:
“We are excited to be amongst the first to enable Tap to Pay on iPhone for our business customers in the UK and to be providing this simple and secure solution that offers greater flexibility for accepting payments.”
Alex Codina, GM of Merchant Acquiring at Revolut, added:
“The launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone allows us to offer greater choice for both consumers and merchants in the UK. We expect to see all kinds of businesses, from retail stores to barbershops and food stands, quickly start accepting in-person contactless payments with only an iPhone.”
Apple is working closely with leading payment platforms and app developers across the payments and commerce industry to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone in the U.K.
Tap to Pay on iPhone complements and enhances the robust suite of payment and commerce tools that payment platforms and app developers provide to their merchant customers to help them run and grow their businesses.
Tap to Pay on iPhone will work with contactless credit and debit cards from leading payment networks, including American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.
Natwest, who launched a similar Tap to Pay on Android back in May, has made Apple Tap to Pay on iPhone available as part of its merchant acquiring platform Tyl.
Mark Brant, Chief Payments Officer, NatWest said:
“Customers now expect the convenience and wider choice of using contactless credit or debit cards, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay, to make seamless and secure purchases wherever they shop. Equally, entrepreneurs and businesses are always looking for ways to streamline their operations, boost sales and connect with their customers regardless of location, all while benefiting from tech to make their own sales experience seamless. And for aspiring entrepreneurs, you just need a good business idea and an iPhone to start getting paid – enabling a whole new wave of opportunities.
“Tap to Pay iPhone within the NatWest Tap to Pay app enables us to meet all of these needs and put contactless payments into the pockets of businesses, optimising the in-person payment experience for all. NatWest was one of the first UK banks to bring Apple Pay to customers in the UK, and we are proud to continue to provide access to the latest in payments technology by being one of the first to bring Tap to Pay on iPhone to merchants in the UK.”
Merchants also benefit from an all-in-one NatWest Tap to Pay app that allows them not only to accept contactless payments but also to track sales and transaction history on their day-to-day business performance.
They can couple this with further insight and support available within Tyl’s sophisticated customer portal which helps merchants track sales trends, payments and invoices while setting up marketing and loyalty programmes to drive further business.
Apple Tap To Pay on iPhone
The in-person payments landscape continues to evolve, driven by buyer preferences for contactless payments and encouraged by an industry-wide migration towards more secure payments enabled by NFC technology.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, sellers gain more flexibility to unlock new commerce experiences and help ensure they never miss a sale, whether that involves empowering staff to line bust in retail environments for faster checkouts, or equipping professional services workers to take contactless payments on the go.
Customers get the convenience of using contactless credit or debit cards, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay, to make seamless and secure purchases wherever they shop.
Apple has included a range of privacy and security features into the system. Transactions are encrypted and processed using the iPhone’s Secure Element, meaning that Apple is not able to track who has purchased something or what they have bought.
The system also uses a standardised payment screen, which means that users will be able to check they are being charged the right fee and that it is a legitimate transaction.
While Revolut and Tyl by NatWest are the first to go live with the service upon its UK launch, future releases are anticipated by Adyen, Dojo, myPOS, Stripe, SumUp, Viva Wallet, Worldline, and Zettle by PayPal.
