iPhone Expands Tap to Pay Feature to More Countries

Apple has significantly broadened the availability of its Tap to Pay feature, transforming select iPhone models into credit card terminals. This expansion now includes eight additional European countries, allowing users to utilize their NFC-capable iPhones for contactless payment processing.

With this latest update, the Tap to Pay service is now operational in Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, and Iceland. Users can make payments using credit and debit cards without the need for additional hardware, provided they have a compatible iPhone model starting from the iPhone X, released in 2017. To access this service, users must establish a contract with a payment service provider.

In most newly added regions, except for Greece, Adyen can be employed as the payment service provider. Other options may include Mollie, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, Rapyd, Global Payments, Surfboard, Worldline, Axepta, Pay.nl, and myPOS, with Teya (available in Iceland) and PayPal (exclusive to Denmark) set to join soon.

This service primarily targets merchants who wish to facilitate credit card payments on-site with just their iPhones. Tap to Pay also supports various digital wallets based on NFC technology, including Apple Pay. Pricing structures vary across different countries, so merchants are advised to check the specific details for their region. The supported card networks include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Notably, in Belgium, Bancontact will be available through Axepta and Viva, while Denmark will offer Dankort via Nexi and Surfboard.

Apple assures that the security protocols for Tap to Pay mirror those utilized for Apple Pay. The company does not track purchases or user identities, reinforcing privacy in transactions. For merchants in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Tap to Pay is already operational, which is also the case for Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. However, the direct transfer of funds from one iPhone to another for personal use, known as Apple Cash, remains exclusive to users in the United States.

Merchants interested in utilizing Tap to Pay can find comprehensive information, including supported countries and payment providers, on Apple's dedicated website. This feature represents a significant advancement in mobile payment technology, offering convenience and expanded access to merchants across Europe.