Apple Adding “Tap to Pay on iPhone” Later This Year

Image via Apple

09 FEBRUARY 2022 - Apple looks poised to upend the point-of-sale space. The Cupertino-company issued a press release Tuesday, confirming rumors that have been circulating for a few weeks. Those had Apple enabling contactless payment acceptance for iPhone in the relatively near future. Now, Apple says:

Later this year, US merchants will be able to accept Apple Pay and other contactless payments simply by using iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app.

The company says adding Tap to Pay to iPhone will:

…empower millions of merchants across the US, 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 through a simple tap to their iPhone — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed. 

Once live, merchants will be able to take contactless payments with hardware as far back as 2018’s iPhone XS or later, provided it’s got a supporting and supported app installed. “At checkout,” the release says:

…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 can accept payments from wherever they do business.

Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, is quoted in the release, saying:

In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses of all sizes — from solopreneurs to large retailers — to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.

That’s the down the road idea, anyway. It starts, though, with one partner. The release says:

Stripe will be the first payment platform to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app this spring. Additional payment platforms and apps will follow later this year.

But it seems like not much later. Word on the latest beta for iOS 15.4 says that the “Tap to Pay on iPhone” framework is already showing up. MacRumors says the Tap to Pay on ‌iPhone‌ feature is working in the latest beta, but you can’t use it. That’s because it needs support from third-party providers. While Stripe will offer that, it’s not doing so yet.