Hong Kong's Octopus Card Delays Apple Pay Support Until 2020

[MacRumors]

Hong Kong transit riders will not be able to use their Octopus card with Apple Pay this year as originally promised.

As noted by the blog Ata Distance, Octopus Cards Limited today announced that Apple Pay support has been delayed until later in 2020, after previously indicating that the rollout would be completed by the end of 2019.

Apple Pay support will allow the Octopus card to be added to the Wallet app for contactless fare payment using an iPhone or Apple Watch. Express Transit mode will likely be supported, allowing for tap-and-go payment without needing to authenticate the iPhone or Apple Watch with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

2019 was a big year for Apple Pay with Express Transit mode, with major cities like London and New York City rolling out support. Other cities like Philadelphia, San Diego, Shenzhen, and Washington, D.C. also have plans to support Apple Pay in 2020. Apple maintains a list of supported cities on its website.

(Thanks, Kanjo!)

Article Link: Hong Kong's Octopus Card Delays Apple Pay Support Until 2020

 

[Labeno]

2020 is less than two weeks away.

 

[nicho]

2020 is less than two weeks away.

However, "later in 2020" doesn't exactly imply 1st January!

 

[Yves ol]

come onnnnnn !!!!!

 

[ksec]

Dont think anyone in Hong Kong gives a damn about it anymore.

 

[jent]

If I'm not mistaken, the Octopus card can be used to pay in many convenience stores and retail locations throughout Hong Kong, right? Would this be for transit use only or anywhere the physical Octopus card is accepted?

 

[Labeno]

However, "later in 2020" doesn't exactly imply 1st January!

It's seems comical when companies state such ambiguous dates. I was just mocking the stupidity. I wish companies would not provide release dates until the product was ready and a specific release date was announced, like Steve Jobs did where products were announced on the day of or within a week of the release date.

 

[whyamihere]

Retaliation to Apple siding with mainland China?

 

[Telomar]

This is happening in Sydney too.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...ay-for-all-modes-service-20191218-p53l5d.html

 

[B4U]

Why? Because the CCP cannot track the individuals without asking Apple?

 

[coolfactor]

But one day, all of this fancy infrastructure will come to a screeching halt.

#Doomsday already started in HK.