Apple says Apple Pay is making everyday payments even better by adding support for rewards programs and store-issued credit and debit cards with iOS 9. It's also heading to the United Kingdom.
Apple Pay in the US is expanding merchant acceptance to over one million locations next month and bringing support for Discover this fall. With this addition, the payment system will accept credit and debit cards across all major card networks, issued by the most popular banks, representing 98% of all credit card purchase volume in the US, says Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Internet Services,
With the addition of Apple Pay, the Passbook app in iOS has become much more than simply a place for keeping coupons, gift cards, boarding passes and tickets. So, starting this fall with iOS 9, it's been renamed Wallet, bringing additional options at checkout with Apple Pay support for rewards and store-issued credit and debit cards.
To get the most out of purchases, users add participating rewards and store-issued cards to the Wallet app and use them at checkout with Apple Pay. This fall, more than 80 million active members of Walgreens Balance Rewards program, the nation’s largest drugstore loyalty program, will be able to use their rewards with Apple Pay.
Additionally, Kohl’s Department Stores will begin rolling out Apple Pay to its 30 million Yes2You Reward program members. Others bringing rewards programs to Apple Pay users include Coca-Cola, Dunkin’ Donuts, Panera Bread and Wegmans Food Markets. Favorite store-issued cards available to Apple Pay users will include BJ’s Wholesale Club, Kohl’s Department Stores and JCPenney, with many more to come.
Popular apps continue to add Apple Pay support so checkout can happen with a single touch, says Baily. New apps bringing Apple Pay to customers include Best Buy, Delta Air Lines’ Fly Delta app, Dunkin’ Donuts, Gilt, HauteLook, Kickstarter, Munchery, Nordstromrack.com and zulily. Pinterest will also launch Buyable Pins later this month, so users can purchase millions of items from over a thousand stores like Cole Haan, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus from right within the Pinterest app with Apple Pay, only on iOS.
What's more, Apple has announced that starting next month, Apple Pay will be available to customers in the UK. At launch, over 250,000 locations will accept Apple Pay, with support from eight of the UK’s most established banks, across all of the major credit and debit card networks.
Apple Pay will support UK credit and debit cards from American Express, MasterCard and Visa Europe, issued by many of the UK’s most popular banks, including first direct, HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank. Other major issuing banks will follow by this fall, including Bank of Scotland, Coutts, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, MBNA, M&S Bank and TSB Bank.
Starting in July, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch users will be able to make purchases anywhere contactless payments are accepted. In addition to the 39 Apple Stores in the UK, leading locations for everyday shopping that will accept Apple Pay include Boots UK, BP, Costa Coffee, Dune, JD Sports, KFC UK & Ireland, Liberty, LIDL, Marks & Spencer (M&S), McDonald’s UK, Nando’s, New Look, Post Office, Pret A Manger, SPAR, Starbucks, SUBWAY stores, Wagamama and Waitrose. Transport for London will also accept Apple Pay, so you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for your travel or daily commute.
Apps that will accept Apple Pay in the UK include Addison Lee, Airbnb, Argos, Booking.com, British Airways, Domino’s, easyJet, Hailo, HotelTonight, hungryhouse, JD Sports, Just Eat, lastminute.com, Miss Selfridge, Ocado, Stubhub, thetrainline.com, Top 10, Topshop, Uncover, Vueling, YPlan, Zalando and Zara, among others. When paying for goods and services within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.
