Microsoft Readying Mobile Payment Solution

apple pay
Microsoft remains tight-lipped about its plans for a mobile payment platform to rival Apple Pay

Microsoft is reading its answer to Apple Pay. The company demoed a “tap to pay” capability in Windows 10 phones at the WinHEC conference for Windows hardware developers in China last month, and a report on Business Insider, quoting research from banking consultant Faisal Khan, says that Microsoft has applied for licenses for transmitting money in all 50 states in the US, and that it has received approval from one state, Idaho.

Microsoft’s platform will use Host Card Emulation that does not require a Secure Element on a SIM card. It will also use NFC. Officially Microsoft remains tight-lipped about its mobile payment plans.