Launched in 2014, Apple Pay is Apple’s mobile payment service that lets the user purchase goods or services using debit or credit information stored in the iPhone. This means you can actually buy things with a touch of your finger or wave your hand over an enabled Point of Sale (POS).

Voila! Looks interesting, right? Yes, it is!

It’s incredibly safe to use as the card information is stored on a Secure Element – that is never synced out of the cloud. The authorization is handled by a passcode or Touch ID. One-time tokens are created to make the payments and your card’s information is never shared with the retailers.

Currently available in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, Apple Pay works on iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, Apple Watch, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, including their newer versions.

To make this payment model a success, Apple has collaborated with more than 500 banks (and counting). Some of the names that are on board are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Wells Fargo, Citi and Chase. You can check theentire list on Apple Pay’s website.

McDonalds, Starbucks, Petco, Sephora, Target, Anthropologie, Staples, Panera, Chevron, Macy’s and Whole Food’s are just a few brands that accept payments via Apple Pay from the overwhelming, ever-expanding list of 220,000+ retailers.

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In the US, 20% of iPhone users reported using the service at least once. So if you meet all the criteria for using Apple Pay but don’t know where to start from, let us help you out by answering three basic questions.

How does Apple Pay work?

The payment system makes use of a type of wireless technology called NFC or “near-field communication”. It allows you to make payments within a small distance to a retailer or restaurant’s corresponding card reader – that only accepts payments once you have confirmed.

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Why should I use Apple Pay?

It is not easy to digest the fact that a technology as complicated as this can make conducting transactions so simple!

But trust us, this is real and it is happening – all thanks to Apple Pay.

• Fast: Apple Pay offers a super quick mode of payment. This means you don’t have to stand in long lines to complete the transaction. The payment can literally happen on your fingertips.
• Safety: It is more secure than traditional credit cards. It requires Touch ID or fingerprint verification to complete the purchase. Do you know that you don’t even need to look down at your iPhone during the transaction? All you have to do is wait for confirmation – which happens through a “subtle vibration and beep”.
• Convenient: Now you don’t have to worry about “not carrying your cards”. You can make purchases while on-the-go! And if, God forbid, you lose your iPhone with the credit card information stored in it, wipe it clean by using the “Find My iPhone” feature and put your device in “Lost Mode” to lock itself down.

How do I start using Apple Play?

Before start making purchases, you need to set up Apple Play on your device. Here’s how you can do it:

• Open Wallet in your iPhone. If you are on your iPad, go to Settings and choose Wallet & Apple Play.
• Tap the plus sign at the top-right corner of the screen to add card preference – credit or debit.
• Tap Next.
• Enter the details of your card manually. You can capture the image of your card with your device as well.
• Tap Next. Your bank will then verify the information and determine whether or not, you can add the card to Apple Play. You might even have to provide some additional information to verify.
• Once the verification is done, tap Next.

Your Apple Play is up and about. You can now make your first transaction.

While Apple Pay is a fantastic option to make payments with, it is not available “everywhere”. For retailers, especially, making secure and honest transactions is a must.

Onesto Payments, for instance, offers solving payments and POS challenges for small businesses. The solutions provided them are ideal for all retail formats and the customers are free from the risk of being cheated by technology providers.

Want to learn more about their various modes of payment? Visit the website or call on 201-546-5555 to book a free POS consultation right now!