Apple Pay Could Launch in Germany as Early as Next Month

[4254126]

Just a thought (lets not start getting our hopes up again): They didn't want all the press to mix up Apples Q1 earnings with a big Apple Pay announcement. There could be an event in March (iPhone SE 2, iOS 11.3, new ???, Homepod for France and Germany) and they will announce Apple Pay for a list of European countries then?

But then again: I'll only start believing it when it actually happens.

 

[PR1985]

Significant number of "switches" during next week! A real troll would not go on texting with me IMHO.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

Significant number of "switches" next week! A real troll would not go on texting with me IMHO.

But why Apple didn't say anything about a release in Germany yesterday. This is really confusing and senseless

 

[PR1985]

But why Apple didn't say anything about a release in Germany yesterday. This is really confusing and senseless

Don´t ask me, I´m just a little "freak" like many of us here. It seems that Concardis knows even more.
Nice, that sunny takes the time, I appreciate that. He is aware of the fact, that I´m informing you guys.

 

[JepGambardella]

So, Sunny did not explain why his prediction did not come true. Now you, @PR1985, have info about a slow rollout? Something about “switches”? And Sunny knows it. I don’t believe it.

 

[Nishko]

I've been watching from the sidelines for quite some time (this is a new account) but will chime in to support Sunny2k1 and say people will feel sorry for being so bitter instead of just a bit patient. My knowledge is limited to Germany and only few details (e.g. girocard implementation) where AP will launch 100% very soon, but I received this information from a high level at Apple, not just a third party. In light of this, there is no doubt in Sunny2k1's previous statements.

 

[Karma_isA_8itch]

I just want to give my two cents. Seems like people still hope that Apple is going to launch Apple Pay in a few European countries even though they did not say a word about it on yesterday’s earnings call.

I keep reading posts like the one above from PR1985 which may sound like there still is hope but let’s just face it. There will not be Apple Pay in Germany any time soon.

Why is that? Apple already said they will launch Apple Pay in Brazil without giving a exact date. So that means it can launch in a week from now or a month from now. Why would Apple announce AP for Brazil and then suddenly without any further notification launch Apple Pay somewhere else. It just does not make any sense at all.

And where did all these rumors come from? The only information we got was from sunny. That’s about it. There is no proof that a single word he told us is true. And him vanishing now just says more than a thousand words.

For the last 4 to 5 months there were no hints or rumors about Apple Pay launch in Germany, Austria, Netherlands... but Sunny’s information. Those photos people post on Twitter are not worth a dime. They just jumped on the Apple Pay hype train to get some clicks and followers with posting (knowingly or unknowingly) pictures of Apple Pay screens with German translation. But truth is these screenshots can be created within a blink of an eye and we all know it. Yeah some people say that suddenly the Apple Pay screen popped up but it is more likely that they at one point switched region to a Apple Pay country and those Apple Pay information like the extra tab in settings for wallet and Apple Pay or the possibility to add cards has been there all along since they changed it. They just didn’t notice it because they weren’t paying attention to it. But with all the rumors from this ONE user people staring looking for signs and hints that weren’t there and instead found stuff that has been there all the time.

I don’t want to crush the last bit of hope you guys have but I guess there was no hope at all. At no point. Apple is probably not even working on a launch in Germany. Just look at those countries like Russia for example. They have one of the oddest financial system. There are banks all over the world and then there are Russian banks. Ever tried to make a wire transfer to Russia? Hell yeah there wasn’t even PayPal available for the longest time. Only lately it was possible to sent money to private persons with PayPal. The point in trying to make is even in such a country with a somewhat “strange” banking sector Apple managed to get Apple Pay started. And that was back in 2016 already. And now they are launching it ok Brazil ...

I gave up the hope to see Apple Pay happening in Germany. Banks are too greedy in order to share their profits with another Player on the market. I went to school with a guy 10 years ago he’s working now for Targo Bank in Germany. I don’t pretend to have some insider knowledge but he said ever since the interest rates are that low and they handelt even make profits anymore which leads to massive numbers of banks getting closed and people getting fired banks have no interest in sharing the little profit they have left with companies like Apple. That’s why we banks have created the Girocard and paydirekt instead of mastercard or visa and PayPal in order to keep all profits for themselves. It’s been like that for the last 50 years and it will probably be like that for the next few years as well if European Central Bank and draghi are not going to stop cheap money policy.

Btw I’m sorry for spelling mistakes I’m writing this on my 4 inch iPhone se.

 

[Bladery]

I've been watching from the sidelines for quite some time (this is a new account) but will chime in to support Sunny2k1 and say people will feel sorry for being so bitter instead of just a bit patient. My knowledge is limited to Germany and only few details (e.g. girocard implementation) where AP will launch 100% very soon, but I received this information from a high level at Apple, not just a third party. In light of this, there is no doubt in Sunny2k1's previous statements.

Haha another insider...
What does “very soon” mean?

 

[yeahtyeaht]

So, Sunny did not explain why his prediction did not come true. Now you, @PR1985, have info about a slow rollout? Something about “switches”? And Sunny knows it. I don’t believe it.

I believe PR1985 but I can’t believe sunny anymore and sunny is his source.
[doublepost=1517594918][/doublepost]

Haha another insider...
What does “very soon” mean?

Welcome to macinsiders

There is really a macinsiders website

 

[tabilo]

To support sunny a bit: Although I do not have informations from this year, my last years sources (one of the larger European card processors) told me a launch date “around” March 2018 for Germany.

Speculative:
It could very well be that Apple tries to take a big step forward in Europe by rolling it out to many countries at once. This would also explain why it wasn’t mentioned in the earnings call, because it would be a big news for the European payments market (The rollout could easily reach 100 million customers).

 

[yeahtyeaht]

Wooow one insider more. Sry, you could be right but it’s going to be funnier here

Guys what do you say if we create a Discord server to text there? Maybe it’s better, I don’t know

 

[PR1985]

Guys, if next week we don´t hear anything... Why would sunny still text with me?

 

[matthewadams]

Alright. Took a look inside the current iOS 11.2.5 Firmware and found no references or even extensions (for Germans Girocard/VPay/Maestro) in the localisation for Apple Pay in German. I'd at least have expected a Girocard image asset (or Maestro/V-Pay as imprinted on all those cards). Instead, all you find are the usual credit/debit card vendors.


This leads me to assume it's not even considered for in the current iOS version. I could be wrong, but I suppose a new form of payment (in addition to debit/credit cards as well as Suica) would've led to some additional hints in the firmware.

 

[KarstenS]

At least one bank, where the most customers are from Germany an Luxembourg, seems to be working on ApplePay.

In periodical times I tried to add that card to ApplePay. Except for one day it was always failing at step one, where it is trying to contact the bank.

At one day step 1 sucessed and it failed at the step, where it configures the card for ApplePay.

They have also credit cards for Austria and France. So it doesnt mean any hint for a new country. It could also mean they are preparing for a launch in France, as there Apple Pay is already available.

 

[PR1985]

So, Sunny did not explain why his prediction did not come true. Now you, @PR1985, have info about a slow rollout? Something about “switches”? And Sunny knows it. I don’t believe it.

@laufgeek had AP yesterday and he said to me, before switching his device to Ireland, iOS 11.2.5, installed yesterday on his phone.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

Alright. Took a look inside the current iOS 11.2.5 Firmware and found no references or even extensions in the localisation for Apple Pay in German. I'd at least have expected a Girocard image asset (or Maestro/V-Pay as imprinted on all those cards). This leads me to assume it's not even considered for in the current iOS version.

It is translated. Some users get the Apple Pay Message in there wallet when they change their region to US or something else but they can’t add a credit card.

 

[arman94]

I just want to give my two cents. Seems like people still hope that Apple is going to launch Apple Pay in a few European countries even though they did not say a word about it on yesterday’s earnings call.

I keep reading posts like the one above from PR1985 which may sound like there still is hope but let’s just face it. There will not be Apple Pay in Germany any time soon.

Why is that? Apple already said they will launch Apple Pay in Brazil without giving a exact date. So that means it can launch in a week from now or a month from now. Why would Apple announce AP for Brazil and then suddenly without any further notification launch Apple Pay somewhere else. It just does not make any sense at all.

And where did all these rumors come from? The only information we got was from sunny. That’s about it. There is no proof that a single word he told us is true. And him vanishing now just says more than a thousand words.

For the last 4 to 5 months there were no hints or rumors about Apple Pay launch in Germany, Austria, Netherlands... but Sunny’s information. Those photos people post on Twitter are not worth a dime. They just jumped on the Apple Pay hype train to get some clicks and followers with posting (knowingly or unknowingly) pictures of Apple Pay screens with German translation. But truth is these screenshots can be created within a blink of an eye and we all know it. Yeah some people say that suddenly the Apple Pay screen popped up but it is more likely that they at one point switched region to a Apple Pay country and those Apple Pay information like the extra tab in settings for wallet and Apple Pay or the possibility to add cards has been there all along since they changed it. They just didn’t notice it because they weren’t paying attention to it. But with all the rumors from this ONE user people staring looking for signs and hints that weren’t there and instead found stuff that has been there all the time.

I don’t want to crush the last bit of hope you guys have but I guess there was no hope at all. At no point. Apple is probably not even working on a launch in Germany. Just look at those countries like Russia for example. They have one of the oddest financial system. There are banks all over the world and then there are Russian banks. Ever tried to make a wire transfer to Russia? Hell yeah there wasn’t even PayPal available for the longest time. Only lately it was possible to sent money to private persons with PayPal. The point in trying to make is even in such a country with a somewhat “strange” banking sector Apple managed to get Apple Pay started. And that was back in 2016 already. And now they are launching it ok Brazil ...

I gave up the hope to see Apple Pay happening in Germany. Banks are too greedy in order to share their profits with another Player on the market. I went to school with a guy 10 years ago he’s working now for Targo Bank in Germany. I don’t pretend to have some insider knowledge but he said ever since the interest rates are that low and they handelt even make profits anymore which leads to massive numbers of banks getting closed and people getting fired banks have no interest in sharing the little profit they have left with companies like Apple. That’s why we banks have created the Girocard and paydirekt instead of mastercard or visa and PayPal in order to keep all profits for themselves. It’s been like that for the last 50 years and it will probably be like that for the next few years as well if European Central Bank and draghi are not going to stop cheap money policy.

Btw I’m sorry for spelling mistakes I’m writing this on my 4 inch iPhone se.

You are right. However, in case of Russia the situation was slightly different. First of all, The Russian biggest bank "Sberbank" went forward to Apple. Actually they were rumors, how much they gave to Apple to be the ONLY bank to support Apple pay for one month or so. So maybe they accepted all Apple's fees and even paid money to be the only Apple Pay support Bank in Russia for a month.

 

[PR1985]

Alright. Took a look inside the current iOS 11.2.5 Firmware and found no references or even extensions in the localisation for Apple Pay in German. I'd at least have expected a Girocard image asset (or Maestro/V-Pay as imprinted on all those cards). Instead, all you find are the usual credit/debit card vendors.


This leads me to assume it's not even considered for in the current iOS version. I could be wrong, but I suppose a new form of payment (in addition to debit/credit cards as well as Suica) would've led to some additional hints in the firmware.

You don´t have the version/s sunny had access to haven´t you? So. Next week... We all know what we think after this week, if nothing has happened by then. At least he talks to me, for me this is a sign.

 

[arman94]

You don´t have the version/s sunny had access to haven´t you? So. Next week... We all know what we think after this week, if nothing has happened by then. At least he talks to me, for me this is a sign.

Yea let's just see next week. So hope that everything will happen. No idea why sunny should lie about Apple Pay. For me his statements are adequate

 

[Bladery]

Yea let's just see next week. So hope that everything will happen. No idea why sunny should lie about Apple Pay. For me his statements are adequate

Why should anyone lie about anything?
Because they want fame

 

[matthewadams]

It is translated. Some users get the Apple Pay Message in there wallet when they change their region to US or something else but they can’t add a credit card.

Sorry, I misphrased. Of course the messages in general are translated (for all countries in fact, as is always the case on iOS). However you'd expect references to cards widely used in Germany and that is not the case.

This means that at the very minimum an update to iOS is required before this goes live in Giroland.

 

[Nishko]

Haha another insider...
What does “very soon” mean?

I actually do not get why people think sunny2k1 is lying. A sensible person would check his post history and realize he had made correct predictions in the past. Then again maybe the average user is not into background checking available information… Also, I am not an insider, never claimed to be

I will obviously not share further incriminating information, but sleep very well at night, knowing I will soon be able to use AP without some silly workaround.

I do not have any link to sunny2k1, but even if I didn‘t trust his information, why would I not trust someone at Apple related to the matter? People working in the business world are usually also aware that timelines may shift. We can all check back in a while and see who was right, in the meanwhile, I advise to hold your horses

 

[kkrdvc]

Alright. Took a look inside the current iOS 11.2.5 Firmware and found no references or even extensions (for Germans Girocard/VPay/Maestro) in the localisation for Apple Pay in German. I'd at least have expected a Girocard image asset (or Maestro/V-Pay as imprinted on all those cards). Instead, all you find are the usual credit/debit card vendors.


This leads me to assume it's not even considered for in the current iOS version. I could be wrong, but I suppose a new form of payment (in addition to debit/credit cards as well as Suica) would've led to some additional hints in the firmware.

Well, V Pay and Maestro are not mentioned in the PKPaymentNetworks API on the Apple Developers page, even though they are supported in Italy: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/passkit/pkpaymentnetwork

 

[matthewadams]

Well, V Pay and Maestro are not mentioned in the PKPaymentNetworks API on the Apple Developers page, even though they are supported in Italy: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/passkit/pkpaymentnetwork

Ah, I see. Thanks for digging that up
Do you have some additional info on those being supported in AP Italy?

Nevermind, found it: apple-pay-1.jpg
I suppose those icons are hardcoded into the issued card image then (as opposed to some others which use the local images for Mastercard and so forth).

Suppose it is in fact all in place then.

 

[Ritzel]

You are right. However, in case of Russia the situation was slightly different. First of all, The Russian biggest bank "Sberbank" went forward to Apple. Actually they were rumors, how much they gave to Apple to be the ONLY bank to support Apple pay for one month or so. So maybe they accepted all Apple's fees and even paid money to be the only Apple Pay support Bank in Russia for a month.

So maybe this is also possible in Germany!? The Sparkassen Finanz Group is the biggest Player in Germany. PR1985 told, that there are comming news in the next week. So maybe the Sparkasse saved the exclusiv rights for AP and want's to bring out the news first!? Maybe with Adds for the Olympic Games (The Sparkassen Finanz Group is also biggest Sponsor of the Games in Germany). - just my own opinion...