Apple Pay Prepares for 20 October Rollout

iphone apple payApples contactless mobile wallet solution Apple Pay is being readied to go live in the US on 20 October, with retailers being trained on how to accept payments from the new system.

Apple Pay, which uses the Touch ID fingerprint sensor to identify users, was announced when Apple revealed the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, with confirmation of the rollout date coming at the recent launch of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. The mobile wallet will enable users to pay for items in stores and within apps, and will be delivered by a free software update to iOS 8.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to make Apple Pay private and secure, with the simplicity of a single touch of your finger,” said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of internet software and services at Apple. “The reaction to Apple Pay has been amazing. We continue to add more Apple Pay ready banks, credit card companies and merchants, and think our users will love paying with Apple Pay.”

Apple Pay will support credit and debit cards from American Express, MasterCard and Visa, and has signed up over 500 banks across the US in addition to nationwide financial institutions like Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

Apple Pay contactless readers have been added to the 262 Apple retail stores in the US, as well as a huge variety of retailers and brands including American Eagle Outfitters, Foot Locker, Walgreens, Office Depot, McDonalds, Nike and Petco. Among the apps able to use Apple Pay at launch are Uber, Lyft, HotelTonight and Groupon.