After launching in the US last year, Apple’s Tap to Pay is now rolling out in the UK. The function allows retailers to use iPhones as mobile point-of-sales terminals. All you have to do is download and set up the appropriate mobile app and you can start accepting digital wallets and credit and debit card payments on your iPhone without any additional hardware.
However, as a retailer, you need at least an Apple iPhone Xs or newer to be able to use Tap to Pay. You can get the payment app from the App Store as usual. The service will initially work with payment platforms Revolut and Tyl by Natwest, and will also be available in Apple Stores across the UK in the coming weeks. Support for Adyen, Dojo, myPOS, Stripe, SumUp, Viva Wallet, Worldline, and Zettle by PayPal is also on the roadmap.
“We’ve seen Tap to Pay on iPhone transform the checkout experience for so many different types of businesses, and we’re thrilled to now support merchants across the U.K. by offering an easy, secure, and private way to accept contactless payments using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone, with no additional hardware needed.
Small and medium-sized businesses have long played a vital role in the U.K. economy, and alongside payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for U.K. businesses to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.”
Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet
Once merchants set up Tap to Pay, they can accept payments via NFC from customers with a tap. Apple offers the same data protection standard as Apple Pay with Secure Element encryption. Transaction data specific to the products purchased is not shared with Apple.
