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MasterCard May Support Apple Pay in Canada, Brazil and Asia This Year

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Apple Pay is supported by large financial institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and China, but the mobile payments service can only be used with non-bank-issued American Express credit cards in Australia and Canada. Apple Pay does not support big banks in either country.

Apple-pay-mastercard.jpg

That could soon change in at least Canada, as MacRumors has learned that MasterCard has Apple Pay support in that country on its 2016 roadmap. The information is based on an unverified internal document, however, so the plans cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt until other evidence surfaces.

MasterCard credit cards are issued by a number of Canada's largest banks, including BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Canada Trust, while store-branded MasterCards are available from large retailers such as Canadian Tire, Costco, and Walmart. Most of these stores and institutions also offer Visa, but their plans remain unknown.

MasterCard is also looking to support Apple Pay in Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore in 2016, according to the document. Apple previously announced that its Apple Pay partnership with American Express will expand to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Spain this year, while Brazil and Japan would be entirely new markets.

Earlier this month, a hidden "NetworkInterac" string was uncovered in iOS 9.2.1 code that hints at Apple Pay support at Canada's big banks. Interac is Canada's official debit card network, adopted by the country's largest financial institutions nationwide. TD already stirred speculation in October when it inadvertently listed Apple Pay as a method of payment on its website, before quickly removing it.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in France, and it could make an announcement by September 2016 -- perhaps at WWDC in June. The original report did not specify when Apple Pay will become available in French stores, nor did it have information about which French banks and participating issuers will support iPhone payments upon launch.

Article Link: MasterCard May Support Apple Pay in Canada, Brazil and Asia This Year
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/29/mastercard-apple-pay-canada-brazil-asia/
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tomnavratil

macrumors 6502a
Oct 2, 2013
871
1,503
Good news for more countries! I really hope Apple Pay gets more availability in Europe soon. With NFC readers being very common in shops, it would be great to have it around - looks pretty handy!
 
T

tmiw

macrumors 68020
Jun 26, 2007
2,459
584
San Diego, CA
Hopefully it works out but considering Canadian Visa cards aren't part of it yet, there's no guarantee banks still won't stonewall.
 
fischersd

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,353
1,928
Port Moody, BC, Canada
Whoever wrote that doesn't seem to understand that Amex is the only credit card company that operates individually in Canada (hence how they were able to negotiate a deal with Apple). All of the MC / Visa cards are issued through the financial institutions. Until the banks get their heads out of their asses and agree to a deal with Apple, we're stuck (and the rumblings were that the banks are negotiating with Apple as a group, so they have more bargaining power).

I'll believe it when it's finally announced - anything else is just vapourware.
 
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skwood

skwood

macrumors 6502a
Jul 8, 2013
891
598
England
Apple Pay is already working in many stores in France, anywhere NFC is supported which is 80-90% of stores here. Been using my UK Apple Pay without any issues. Orange France announced their own payment system using NFC a while back. Just need the French banks to do their part and implement Apple Pay on their cards.
 
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lk400

macrumors 6502a
Aug 26, 2012
944
499
fischersd said:
Whoever wrote that doesn't seem to understand that Amex is the only credit card company that operates individually in Canada (hence how they were able to negotiate a deal with Apple). All of the MC / Visa cards are issued through the financial institutions. Until the banks get their heads out of their asses and agree to a deal with Apple, we're stuck (and the rumblings were that the banks are negotiating with Apple as a group, so they have more bargaining power).

I'll believe it when it's finally announced - anything else is just vapourware.
Click to expand...

That's right, they are very different types of businesses. MC and Visa are just in payment processing, so it would surely need the buy in of the banks.

Also it says Japan on the list. While NFC terminals are everywhere here, I believe they use a Japan-only standard, not supported by iPhones. I have a Apple Pay on my iPhone and have tried so many terminals - none work. So it seems action would be required on Apples part too.
 
einsteinbqat

einsteinbqat

macrumors 6502
Nov 3, 2012
457
377
Canada
MasterCard and Visa do not issue cards in Canada. The banks do. So, unless something unexpected happens in 2016, the only thing MC and Visa can do is try to convince Canadian charter banks to talk to Apple.
 
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fischersd

fischersd

macrumors 603
Oct 23, 2014
5,353
1,928
Port Moody, BC, Canada
lk400 said:
That's right, they are very different types of businesses. MC and Visa are just in payment processing, so it would surely need the buy in of the banks.

Also it says Japan on the list. While NFC terminals are everywhere here, I believe they use a Japan-only standard, not supported by iPhones. I have a Apple Pay on my iPhone and have tried so many terminals - none work. So it seems action would be required on Apples part too.
Click to expand...
We know it works pretty much anywhere in Canada that has NFC terminals - the only "gotcha" are those terminals that use Interac - and that is also said to be coming. Anyone that has Apple Pay working on their iPhone from other countries can come to Canada and shop just about anywhere. I know people that signed up for Amex cards JUST so they could have AP already and not have to wait.
 
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4

4mat

macrumors member
Jun 23, 2008
91
11
If Apple went into the business and offered basic bank accounts and credit cards, I'd drop Commonwealth Bank so fast.
 
T

Tech198

macrumors P6
Mar 21, 2011
15,915
2,151
Australia, Perth
non bank issues American CC's ?

does that mean if a bank issues American express, Apple pay cannot work with that "bank'? or are they only talking about Apple pay can't support American Express Credit cards only, which imply Apple pay could still go with Vista cards.?

John Mcgregor said:
Only few decades and it will be worldwide.
Click to expand...

too long.. I don't wanna be using Apple pay when i'm an old geriatric.
 
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lk400

macrumors 6502a
Aug 26, 2012
944
499
bladerunner2000 said:
If I've got debit, why do I need Apple Pay?
Click to expand...
You don't need it and you don't have to use it. The great thing about it is that it's optional.

It's more of a convenience and security thing for those who use it. If your current method suits your needs, then that's good!
 
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