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Apple Extends Internal iOS 11.1 Apple Pay Cash Testing to Retail Employees

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Apr 12, 2001
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Starting in early October, Apple corporate employees in the United States began testing Apple Pay Cash internally in the iOS 11.1 beta, suggesting the person-to-person Apple Pay feature could be introduced in iOS 11.1 despite its current absence from the iOS 11.1 developer beta.

Apple has now expanded its internal Apple Pay Cash feature to its retail employees, making it available to a much wider range of people for testing purposes.

applepaycashsettings-800x692.jpg

Retail employees gained access to the feature today and have been asked to install both the iOS 11.1 beta and an additional internal-only beta profile to unlock the Apple Pay Cash feature. According to the retail employee who spoke to MacRumors, Apple is also requiring iCloud accounts to be whitelisted to use Apple Pay Cash.

The Apple Pay Cash setup process can be seen in the screenshot below -- it asks customers to verify their identity with name, address, and social security number.

applepaycashsetup-800x471.jpg

Apple Pay Cash works through the Messages app and is designed to allow for quick person-to-person money transfers, much like Square Cash or Venmo. It's available as a dedicated iMessage app in the built-in Messages app, with cash transferred through iMessage transactions. Though most Apple Pay Cash coverage has focused on the iPhone, money can also be sent using an Apple Watch.

applepaycashsendcash.jpg

When sending cash, it can be sent from a linked debit or credit card, while received cash is stored in an Apple Pay Cash card in Wallet that can be used for purchases or sent to a bank account. Sending cash through a credit card incurs a 3% fee, while sending cash from a debit card is free.

The Apple Pay Cash card available in Wallet is being made available through a partnership with Green Dot, a company that offers prepaid Discover cards.

For Apple Pay Cash to work, both parties need to have the feature enabled and activated. Money can only be sent in a one-on-one message, with Apple Pay Cash not available in group messages.

On the Apple Watch, the interface requires you to scroll past the Scribble icon in the Messages app to access the Apple Pay button. Tapping on it allows users to enter a dollar amount using the Digital Crown or on-screen buttons. Payment is then confirmed via a double click on the Digital Crown, but scrolling down allows for users to choose a different payment source than the default.

Apple first announced person-to-person Apple Pay as an iOS 11 feature at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it was not implemented in any of the iOS 11 betas and towards the end of the beta testing period, Apple confirmed it would be coming in a future iOS 11 update.

Apple Pay Cash is not present in the current iOS 11.1 beta available to developers and public beta testers, but given the expanded internal beta test, it appears Apple is nearly finished with the feature and is gearing up to release it as part of the iOS 11.1 update.

Article Link: Apple Extends Internal iOS 11.1 Apple Pay Cash Testing to Retail Employees
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/13/apple-pay-cash-ios-11-1-retail-testing/
MacRumors said:

The Apple Pay Cash card available in Wallet is being made available through a partnership with Green Dot, a company that offers prepaid Discover cards.
Click to expand...
So does that mean Apple Pay Cash card can be used only where Discover is accepted? Aside from exchanging with friends, of course.
 
Is this to be US only to begin with? The UK Apple Pay page is distinctly void of any mention of it (Although the US version mentions it coming this fall).

EDIT

Yep, dammit.

  • Person to person payments and Apple Pay Cash are available only in the U.S. on iPhone SE, iPhone 6 or later, iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 or later, and Apple Watch.
 
Kaibelf said:
I really feel that this particular feature will be a tipping point for many people to finally get into cashless day to day life and understand it’s not that scary.
Click to expand...

Another way to move away from carrying cash and credit cards. It already started for me a when Apple Pay was introduced. I hardly ever take my wallet out of my pocket nowadays, albeit, the establishments I frequent offer Apple Pay, but you you made a good point that cashless day to day life is not as bad as it seems. I actually find it very convenient and efficient to use. I no longer have to deal with kids giving me the wrong change because they can't count simple math lol.

This is a personal preference so it may be different with other people and their personal experiences. I wish they would do the same with digital driver's license so I DEFINITELY don't have to carry a bulky wallet anymore.
 
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Ntombi said:
No.

You can use your Apple Pay cash anywhere you’d use Apple Pay in general, just select it like a different card.

Or you can deposit it into your bank account.
Click to expand...
Yes but if a Store day doesn’t take Amex, your Amex inside of Apple Pay will still decline.

The store you’re going to had to take discover for this virtual card to work. Thankfully most places that take regular Visa/MC will accept discover.
 
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Kaibelf said:
I really feel that this particular feature will be a tipping point for many people to finally get into cashless day to day life and understand it’s not that scary.
Click to expand...
It's not that scary...only when everyone is on board and we have one standard, instead of Samsung, Google, and Apple wanting their greedy fingers in the pie and want to own it all.

"Can I pay you by ApplePay?"

"No. Do you accept Google Wallet?"

"No. How about PayPal?"

"No, sorry. Ok, here's $20 in cash then."
 
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The Apple Pay Cash setup process can be seen in the screenshot below -- it asks customers to verify their identity with name, address, and social security number.
Click to expand...

Really, Apple? Why do we need to verify our identity with a social security number? A social security number is not meant for identification purposes. Let's stop doing this, okay? Thanks
 
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sw1tcher said:
Really, Apple? Why do we need to verify our identity with a social security number? A social security number is not meant for identification purposes. Let's stop doing this, okay? Thanks
Click to expand...

Talk to the banks, not Apple. They are the ones who use your SS# to verify and link direct access to a checking account, which is what this does.
 
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Kaibelf said:
I really feel that this particular feature will be a tipping point for many people to finally get into cashless day to day life and understand it’s not that scary.
Click to expand...
My issue with stuff like Apple Pay is if you lose your phone, will you be "cash stranded" until you get a new phone? Someone said you could just use credit cards as a backup. However, some proponents tout that never having to carry cash nor credit cards as one of the benefits. At least with a credit card, they replace them for free.

I will acknowledge that if your credit card info gets hacked or stolen, it is more cumbersome to have to redo all automatic payments you've set up using that card, which wouldn't be an issue with Apple Pay.
 
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itsmilo said:
I dont think i ever needed to send a friend money to begin with ... ? I make my own money

Now gimme iMessages in the Cloud
Click to expand...
I often go to events with friends, and if the ticket price is higher than, say, $30, and it’s not a gift, we’ll pay each other back. Often by in-kind purchases next time, but sometimes we need to give each other actual money. Since almost none of us carry cash, this would be a nice option.
 
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i'm certain that myself, along with a few co-workers, will use this capability pretty much every single day..
also, within my family, i think we'll use it often.
[doublepost=1507937809][/doublepost]
Scottsoapbox said:
Do people really need to pass cash (or equivalent) back and forth that often? (I never do.)
Click to expand...
every day at lunch..
either talk the server into giving separate checks then everybody pays individually..
or
everybody adds their share of the cash into the pot.. (never happens)
or
everybody with cash pays the person without cash who then pays the bill on a card
or
go to the bar to get change so everybody can cash out properly ("oh.. i only have twenties" -- times 5).. give cash to the one person with no cash.. (this last one is the way it usually plays out)
or
IOUs

etcetc.

with peer to peer apple pay.. this process becomes so much easier..
everybody just texts their portion to the one person who then pays the bill..

i'm not exaggerating-- the above scenario is a daily occurrence for me :)
 
Last edited:
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flat five said:
i'm certain that myself, along with a few co-workers, will use this capability pretty much every single day..
also, within my family, i think we'll use it often.
[doublepost=1507937809][/doublepost]
every day at lunch..
either talk the server into giving separate checks then everybody pays individually..
or
everybody adds their share of the cash into the pot.. (never happens)
or
everybody with cash pays the person without cash who then pays the bill on a card
or
go to the bar to get change so everybody can cash out properly ("oh.. i only have twenties" -- times 5).. give cash to the one person with no cash.. (this last one is the way it usually plays out)

etcetc.

with peer to peer apple pay.. this process becomes so much easier..
everybody just texts their portion to the one person who then pays the bill..

i'm not exaggerating-- the above scenario is a daily occurrence for me :)
Click to expand...
Holy cow, I do NOT miss those days.
 
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Kaibelf said:
Talk to the banks, not Apple. They are the ones who use your SS# to verify and link direct access to a checking account, which is what this does.
Click to expand...

Venmo doesn't required a SS#, and in the instance that they do (you want to send $300 or more in one week period; you want to transfer $1,000 or more to your bank in one week; or you want to create a group account), they only ask for the last 4.

Is Apple asking for the whole # or just the last 4? Maybe we can get some clarification on this as I'm understanding it to be the whole #

EDIT.... unblocked the images and I see it's just the last 4, so that's not as bad. But does Apple require it no matter what amount? Should only be required if amount being sent is over a certain amount like Venmo.
 
Last edited:
sw1tcher said:
Really, Apple? Why do we need to verify our identity with a social security number? A social security number is not meant for identification purposes. Let's stop doing this, okay? Thanks
Click to expand...

A SSN is required for a bank account and credit card. I think Apple knows what's required by law.
 
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Ntombi said:
No.

You can use your Apple Pay cash anywhere you’d use Apple Pay in general, just select it like a different card.

Or you can deposit it into your bank account.
Click to expand...

have you seen any info about the following scenario:
(or, take a guess at it)

say there's $100 on my cash card..
i want to make a $150 purchase at an ApplePay terminal..

do you think i can use up the $100 on the cash card then have the other $50 come from my debit card automatically?
or, will i have to basically make two separate transactions.. one for each card?
 
sw1tcher said:
Really, Apple? Why do we need to verify our identity with a social security number? A social security number is not meant for identification purposes. Let's stop doing this, okay? Thanks
Click to expand...
I think US govt requires banks to ask for social to open accounts. something about fighting the war on terror.
[doublepost=1507941092][/doublepost]
ackmondual said:
My issue with stuff like Apple Pay is if you lose your phone, will you be "cash stranded" until you get a new phone? Someone said you could just use credit cards as a backup. However, some proponents tout that never having to carry cash nor credit cards as one of the benefits. At least with a credit card, they replace them for free.

I will acknowledge that if your credit card info gets hacked or stolen, it is more cumbersome to have to redo all automatic payments you've set up using that card, which wouldn't be an issue with Apple Pay.
Click to expand...
the same can be said if you lose your wallet or it’s stolen
 
Anyone want to share the Apple Pay Cash profile with me? Pretty please?

Oh, just read that the iCloud account has to be whitelisted.. :'(
 
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