Apple has launched Apple Pay in India, bringing its contactless payments service to one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of marketing, said customers can now complete transactions with eligible iPhones, Apple Watches and iPads.
The service is opening first to holders of eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Apple said more banks and Mac support will be added in the months ahead.
Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said the rollout builds on India’s existing digital payments network, the spread of contactless NFC terminals and the Reserve Bank of India’s framework for biometric authentication.
Shoppers can use Apple Pay at thousands of stores and on online platforms in categories including food and beverages, travel, fashion and lifestyle. Card rewards and other benefits will continue to apply, Apple said.
The company said Apple Pay does not store actual credit card numbers on devices or Apple servers, and does not share those numbers with merchants. Payments use a unique encrypted Device Account Number held in the device hardware. Transactions are authorised with Face ID or Touch ID, so customers do not need to enter a card PIN or one-time password at checkout.
To set it up, users open Apple Wallet on an eligible iPhone or Apple Watch and add a supported Axis Bank credit card by scanning it or typing the details. After the bank verifies the card, in-store payments are made by double-clicking the side or Home button, authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode, and holding the device near an NFC terminal. Online and in-app checkouts can be completed by selecting Apple Pay, without re-entering billing, shipping or card details.