Apple Pay Launches in Spain for American Express and Banco de Santander Customers

[MacRumors]

Apple Pay today launched in Spain, marking the 13th country where the mobile wallet service is available for Apple customers. The news follows a report published yesterday by Spanish website Applesfera that said Apple Pay would launch in the country on December 1.

Today, Apple Pay's availability in Spain began through a partnership with Amex and Banco de Santander. Credit and debit cards issued by Carrefour and Ticket Restaurant are also accepted. The full list of Apple Pay retail partners and compatible apps can be found on Apple's Spanish website.

Banco Santander today brings its customers Apple Pay, an easy, secure and private way to pay that’s fast and convenient. Santander is the first Spanish financial institution to offer Apple Pay to its customers. Redsys and Mastercard collaborated in the initiative. "Apple Pay shows we are committed to collaborate and to bring innovation and new technology to our customers to make their payments easier, faster and more secure," said Rami Aboukhair, country head of Santander Spain. "We are convinced our customers will love it."

At participating retailers, Apple Pay allows customers to pay for meals, clothes, groceries, and other items through a simple one-tap payment solution that uses existing NFC technology, and the service has slowly been adding additional retail partners since its launch in 2014. Apple Pay is also available within some apps, and is now available on the web in iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.

After today, Apple Pay is now available in the U.S., UK, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Japan, and New Zealand. Most recently, Apple Pay launched in Japan with the support of the country's widely adopted FeliCa payments standard, meaning only iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2 models that are sold in the country can be used for Apple Pay transactions there.

Article Link: Apple Pay Launches in Spain for American Express and Banco de Santander Customers

 

[Frederik on MacRumors]

After having lived in Denmark for several years, I just feel annoyed about how payments are handled here in Germany. We are just so dated in how we handle this stuff... I would love to get Apple Pay!

 

[djcerla]

Slowly, but surely, building domination in digital payments.

The potential user base for the technology overlaps nicely with iPhone's demographic.

 

[jpn]

hi

sorry to ask some basic stuff about apple pay but maybe it fits in this topic.

my country of japan has also introduced apple pay but only accessible if you have iPhone 7 model bought in Japan. i am considering getting the iPhone 7 just for apple pay.

anyway. my questions relate to multiple country use of apple pay.

1 if a card is registered in one country with apple pay and that apple card is used in a different apple pay country, no problem. is this correct?

2 is your Regional Setting still used as your apple pay country?

3 But if your Regional Setting is Japan, can apple pay still be used as is, with your Japan based credit card, say, for example, in the USA?

4 Or, do you need to use a USA Regional Setting and therefore a USA based card in the USA?

Sorry for basic questions...

Thanks in advance.

 

[-Maxim-]

After having lived in Denmark for several years, I just feel annoyed about how payments are handled here in Germany. We are just so dated in how we handle this stuff... I would love to get Apple Pay!

I'm in the same boat! I'm so annoyed by the German's attitude of paying cash.
One idea here though: What if I had a Santander credit card (they're available here too) - can I use that for apple pay in Germany?mmmh

 

[Neg4433]

I'm in the same boat! I'm so annoyed by the German's attitude of paying cash.
One idea here though: What if I had a Santander credit card (they're available here too) - can I use that for apple pay in Germany?mmmh

Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.

 

[Morris]

ApplePay has no geographical limitations and works anywhere in the world. If you can find a payment terminal that support contactless payments in Mongolia you can use ApplePay there. The only thing that matters is if your bank supports ApplePay and Apple is rolling the relationships with banks out country-by-country.

When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.

 

[-Maxim-]

ApplePay ... full quote deleted

I see. Thanks for the explanation. Now the question is: Would a "German" Santander credit card be accepted by apple pay if I set the region in my phone to Spain? I can't try it myself right now since Apple is replacing my battery right now...

 

[busyscott]

I stopped using Apple Pay because the process is so inconsistent from place to place. One store will make me click an "accept button" one store will have the reader behind the counter, one store won't have any clue what Apple Pay is (even some that accept it had no idea what it was when I asked) It needs time to mature...like, a long time.

 

[Frederik on MacRumors]

I'm in the same boat! I'm so annoyed by the German's attitude of paying cash.
One idea here though: What if I had a Santander credit card (they're available here too) - can I use that for apple pay in Germany?mmmh

Unfortunately not... I have a Amex who is a Apple Pay partner in several countries, but it can't be used as it is a german card...

 

[Morris]

Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.

Yes, I was in Berlin two weeks ago and was shocked at how hard it was to pay with a normal debit card at many places.

The UK is typically slow with these things, and was slow with card payments (or requiring a PIN for card payments!) too. But, and that is also typical for the UK, once it got accepted it suddenly went at breakneck speed. I think it's been months since I last had cash in my wallet (I am not kidding!).

 

[JTToft]

ApplePay has no geographical limitations and works anywhere in the world. If you can find a payment terminal that support contactless payments in Mongolia you can use ApplePay there. The only thing that matters is if your bank supports ApplePay and Apple is rolling the relationships with banks out country-by-country.

When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.

- Spot on. I've used it in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Spain with no issues without Apple Pay being officially supported in any of those places.

But the bank support is the crucial bit to really enable it as a viable payment method in a country.

I see. Thanks for the explanation. Now the question is: Would a "German" Santander credit card be accepted by apple pay if I set the region in my phone to Spain? I can't try it myself right now since Apple is replacing my battery right now...

- It would not. Apple Pay would recognise it as a German card and reject it. Apple Pay also works with HSBC and other international banks in some countries. That doesn't mean it can be used in every country where those banks operate.

 

[nicho]

hi

sorry to ask some basic stuff about apple pay but maybe it fits in this topic.

my country of japan has also introduced apple pay but only accessible if you have iPhone 7 model bought in Japan. i am considering getting the iPhone 7 just for apple pay.

anyway. my questions relate to multiple country use of apple pay.

1 if a card is registered in one country with apple pay and that apple card is used in a different apple pay country, no problem. is this correct?

Dependent on the card. I have a UK visa credit card which did not work in Hong Kong... i last tested it before Apple Pay went live there, but technically it should have worked given the 7-11 accepted visa paywave... anyway i can test it again next time perhaps. I also have a Chinese China UnionPay card registered, and that worked fine in Hong Kong - also before Apple Pay launched there. Different cards emulate themselves in different ways... the only thing you can be certain of is your card working in its country of issue.

2 is your Regional Setting still used as your apple pay country?

No. It's like an on/off switch but doesn't limit you to adding cards from that country. If your region is set to a country without apple pay you can't register any cards. If it's one with apple pay, you can register any cards. Mine is set to the UK and i can add China UnionPay cards successfully if i wish to.

3 But if your Regional Setting is Japan, can apple pay still be used as is, with your Japan based credit card, say, for example, in the USA?

Thats entirely dependent on your credit card and nothing to do with your regional setting. And possibly dependent on whether the apple pay element inside the japanese phones supports payments in Japan in addition to ones in the ROTW or simply in place of it, as the contactless infrastructure is different there. JCB or Suica cards won't work; Visa cards *might*. Or might not.

4 Or, do you need to use a USA Regional Setting and therefore a USA based card in the USA?

Nothing to do with regional setting, as above. Dependent on the things I mentioned above - mostly whether the Japan version of the iphone 7 is world+japan or just... japan.

Sorry for basic questions...

Thanks in advance.

 

[-Maxim-]

- It would not. Apple Pay would recognise it as a German card and reject it. Apple Pay also works with HSBC and other international banks in some countries. That doesn't mean it can be used in every country where those banks operate.

Alright. There goes my hope. I used Apple pay in the US before since I lived there and have a bank account. Using that card in Germany would be insane though because of the fees.
I guess I have to open a bank account in Spain now

 

[Mike MA]

After having lived in Denmark for several years, I just feel annoyed about how payments are handled here in Germany. We are just so dated in how we handle this stuff... I would love to get Apple Pay!

Well, welcome to the reality. Besides Apple Music no service was released here from the very beginning on.
[doublepost=1480590920][/doublepost]

Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.

Just realized your post. I cannot confirm what you're saying. Nearly EVERYTHING can be paid via credit card, except some discounters like Aldi or Lidl. I never use any cash besides when buying bread at our local bakery.

 

[beanbaguk]

I'm no big fan of Apple pay. I've got all my UK cards on it and i've only managed to make it work once.

However, having said that it's clearly a successful product. No doubt under Tim Cook's "leadership" he'll dissolve it shortly as it's doing too well.

#FireTimCook

 

[dave2010]

Electronic payments are so reliable here in Australia carrying cash or a wallet isn't necessary anymore. It kind of sucks going back to cash or even cards when overseas now.

 

[thekeyring]

I stopped using Apple Pay because the process is so inconsistent from place to place. One store will make me click an "accept button" one store will have the reader behind the counter, one store won't have any clue what Apple Pay is (even some that accept it had no idea what it was when I asked) It needs time to mature...like, a long time.

This is an interesting issue. I worked in retail about a year ago, and customers would ask to pay with Apple Pay, and I knew what to do ... same as any contactless payment. But there was no training at all on it, it's just because I follow Apple.

I was stopped by a ticket inspector who looked totally blank when I said "I paid with Apple Pay." He said in the end "Where are you getting off? Okay, I'll let you go then," like he was letting me off, not like I'd paid properly. Another ticket inspector knew exactly what I was talking about and was able to check the fare.
[doublepost=1480591629][/doublepost]

Slowly, but surely, building domination in digital payments

I think this is Tim Cook's style. After all the criticisms, I can imagine we'll look back at his tenure and realise how many things Apple with him at the helm played a crucial roll in. (Mobile payments, push to wireless headphones, etc.)

 

[Neg4433]

Well, welcome to the reality. Besides Apple Music no service was released here from the very beginning on.
[doublepost=1480590920][/doublepost]

Just realized your post. I cannot confirm what you're saying. Nearly EVERYTHING can be paid via credit card, except some discounters like Aldi or Lidl. I never use any cash besides when buying bread at our local bakery.

In which Region do you live? Plus in Germany there are hardly any banks which offer a normal Debit Card from Master Card. Most offer those classic EC Cards.

 

[gnasher729]

Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.

But you don't have "wallets full of cash". Americans have (or used to have) dollar notes, so someone with nine dollars might have nine banknotes in their wallet. In Germany, anything up to €270 is four or fewer banknotes.
[doublepost=1480592412][/doublepost]

I'm no big fan of Apple pay. I've got all my UK cards on it and i've only managed to make it work once.

Strange. It should work anywhere a contactless debit card works, which is a lot of places (for example M&S but not Sainsbury's). That said I find it quicker on the underground to pull my wallet out and slap it on the Oyster card reader.

- It would not. Apple Pay would recognise it as a German card and reject it. Apple Pay also works with HSBC and other international banks in some countries. That doesn't mean it can be used in every country where those banks operate.

It's the card that matters. if your card is accepted then you can use Apple Pay anywhere in the world that accepts contactless payment cards. Americans who travelled to Europe reported that ages ago. A German card is not accepted at the moment.

 

[nicho]

ApplePay has no geographical limitations and works anywhere in the world. If you can find a payment terminal that support contactless payments in Mongolia you can use ApplePay there. The only thing that matters is if your bank supports ApplePay and Apple is rolling the relationships with banks out country-by-country.

When they say "ApplePay has launched in Spain" they mean that ApplePay is now supported by (some) Spanish banks meaning that most Spaniards can now use ApplePay anywhere in the world. Someone with a UK debit card could already use ApplePay in Spain provided the payment terminal supports contactless payments.

It's the card that matters. if your card is accepted then you can use Apple Pay anywhere in the world that accepts contactless payment cards. Americans who travelled to Europe reported that ages ago. A German card is not accepted at the moment.

that's not entirely true. the implementations of visa paywave (and i assume, mastercard paypass) aren't necessarily compatible around the world... i twice tried using a visa card issued in the UK in Hong Kong and it didn't work, where the actual card did. the american and european systems seem to be interoperable but asia presents a trickier problem. mainland china, for example, *only* accepts china unionpay cards for apple pay - there is no visa or mastercard contactless infrastructure; apple pay there emulates a physical china unionpay card equipped with quickpass and piggy backs on the widespread infrastructure supporting that. a european or american card would not work. similarly, the japanese implementation of apple pay seems to suggest contactless payments on the whole there don't use the common visa/mastercard infrastructure but have their own called QUICPay. I wouldn't bank on international cards working there at all.

 

[neil_cm17]

I'm in the same boat! I'm so annoyed by the German's attitude of paying cash.
One idea here though: What if I had a Santander credit card (they're available here too) - can I use that for apple pay in Germany?mmmh

You wouldn't be able to use a Santander card issued by their German subsidiary. To use Apple Pay you need have a card that is issued within one of the supported countries.

 

[Tech198]

Hola Apple Pay

 

[peterh988]

I stopped using Apple Pay because the process is so inconsistent from place to place. One store will make me click an "accept button" one store will have the reader behind the counter, one store won't have any clue what Apple Pay is (even some that accept it had no idea what it was when I asked) It needs time to mature...like, a long time.

That's more down to the implementation of contactless payments in the US than Apple Pay itself. Here in the UK it's a dream to use. Place your phone on the machine, finger on the button, wait for the ping, job done. Same everywhere, an identical process for every contactless terminal.

Hope the US system matures to an identical, simple to use common standard for you guys soon.

 

[tinispace]

Same here! Very annoying. Wallets full of cash and no-one accepts credit/debit cards. Only those outdated EC cards and still not everybody.

EC Cards = Debit Cards

The only shops not accepting debit cards are "Kiosks"