World's First Apple Pay Alternative for iPhone Launches in Norway

[FlyingDutch]

People here seem to have very little trust towards competition and a free market. "B-but what if the competitors are now allowed to compete freely?? They'll just offer products and then customers can decide what they prefer! What then??"

How can someone trust in Banks willing to fairly compete in beyond my understanding. Banks are the worst entity on the planet.

Until they take away the options the customer had before. Banks will stop using Apple Pay, and replace it with their own inferior implementation. That's less user friendly and has more data collection.

You don't get more choice.

You get NO choice. And they WILL steal your data.

Exactly. I’m astonished in seeing people here trusting banks about client satisfaction.
Before Apple Pay NFC payments were a joke.

Google wallet with NFC tap to pay was the gold standard long before Apple pay. And when Apple pay came around a half a decade later, they could have released it for Android devices and also opened it to Apple devices.

In which parallel universe? Google wallet was irrelevant before Apple Pay … it improved only after Apple ‘s big move to spread Apple Pay worldwide

 

[Unregistered 4U]

People here seem to have very little trust towards competition and a free market. "B-but what if the competitors are now allowed to compete freely?? They'll just offer products and then customers can decide what they prefer! What then??"

No one should cheer “competition” of this nature. If Apple built an App Store on top of Nokia’s hardware and OS instead of building their own solution, that “competition” would not have brought us the hardware that we have today. All it does is “burn in” Apple’s hardware position and doesn’t allow another company to come forth with a hardware/software combination that customers/developers may prefer to Apple OR Google.

 

[manurojasv]

While residing in the EU, I exclusively utilized my bank’s app to transfer funds to my Revolut account. Subsequently, I would make purchases using my Revolut Visa or Mastercard with Apple Pay. Revolut undoubtedly stands as the most exceptional banking application I have ever encountered. It’s a shame that not all banks could emulate Revolut’s exceptional features.

 

[davide_eu]

But what's in it for them, and what's the benefit to users?

Ask them! It's the freedom to choose thay many people like! Maybe they have benefit you don't see, but this doesn't mean they should not be able to get it.

 

[Cybbe]

Apple Pay removed much of the friction involving NFC payments and its popularity exploded. Google rebuilt their platform and the rest is history. Is it anticompetitive? I’m not sure. Yes they charge a small fee but then so do Visa and Mastercard for maintaining the entire payment system in the first place. Where is the call to open up that ‘duopoly’? Why do 2 large international companies control so much of the financial flow system at all?

The reason Visa and Mastercard are not a duopoly is the same reason (in this case) Apple and Google are not. You have the choice of 3rd parties like AMEX or Samsung Pay and you can always pay with plastic or good old cash.

It is a duopoly, which is why a VISA and Mastercard have made similar binding commitments under EU Antritrust rules. Specifically, regarding interchange fees. Youre quite ignorant assuming antitrust regulation is only applied to Apple.

 

[PinkLadyApples]

Just waiting for someone to hack it. There's a walled-garden for a reason, to keep things safe.

 

[M66Call]

Before Apple Pay there pretty much no mobile NFC payments and options really limited and I remember Barclays have something (can’t remember exactly what). They was one of last few banks finally accept Apple Pay, they was stubborn holding out.

If I wanted choices etc then I would go Android but I didn’t. I went to Apple and I know exactly what Apple offers and I know choice will be less but lot more stable and reliable (I remember android back then it was mess and I forever keep fixing mum Samsung galaxy android mobile), I know android have improve lot since then.

Why people go for Apple and complain about less choices? You KNOW what you get with Apple! It not like you are forced to go with Apple. You have choice go Apple OR android. Both have pros and cons and pick whichever you prefer or can live with.

People/companies do do stupid things. For example I remember in UK we used get iTunes code for digital copy of film/movie when buy DVD/Bluray. Apparently it was too “restrictive” so they start moving to Ultraviolet. Guess what? They don’t even exists anymore and iTunes still does (now under different name). All digital films/movies on ultraviolet is lost forever. Was so annoying. I wanted iTunes code instead.

If you think Apple is so good, why isn't Apple news, sports apps, Fitness+, tap to pay, free movies on Apple TV when there are any promotions in the Czech Republic? All the benefits are only in the US. I like Apple for it’s ecosystem, but sometimes it acts like an *******

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think this could lead to Walmart offering their own tap-to-pay solution for the iPhone within a year that does not work through Apple Pay.

 

[JonathanX64]

I live here in Norway, the Vipps is great inside the country, but if you travel outside of Norway? you have no option but to use Apple Pay or Google pay!

Which is exactly like it should be: use national payment system within your country, so local businesses save on fees; use international system when you're traveling.

The problem with Apple Pay is that it prevents national payment systems from operating seamlessly, you have to use some clunky third-party apps. Not anymore

The entire concept of an American phone company forcing customers worldwide to pay through an American payment service is baffling on so many levels. I’m genuinely surprised it took European governments this long to Figure It Out.

 

[Cybbe]

Apple Pay supports quite a range of national payment systems, including BankAxept, the one used in Norway:

bankAxept | Apple Developer Documentation

There's never been a better time to develop for Apple platforms.

developer.apple.com

(supports from participating banks is a bit patchy, but that's not Apples fault)

And while Vipps at the moment only supports BankAxept, they will in a few months time support Visa and Mastercard as well, which means that it can be used outside of Norway too.

 

[springsup]

Please, no! I hope people will avoid this en masse, I would hate for my bank to stop providing Apple Pay on the pretense that some alternative I won’t trust is available. I hate the EU for forcing this.

Same. I just know the German banks are going to try make their own version.

It’s going to be much worse - I’m expecting zero localisation for foreigners living in Germany, they won’t list their app on international AppStores, so foreigners will have to make a second Apple account, and it will be a buggy piece of crap that requires 6 different passwords.

That’s how it is with everything here. It’s consumer-hostile bullcrap and the EU doomed us to more of it.

 

[Hinza]

Who need competition in this market ? No benefit for end users, just for banks

This ! On this basis every single European bank could stop supporting Apple Pay in order to force customers to use their solution.

No benefits at all for customers! But ignorance is bliss and people here are greeting “freedom” and competition


Because IT IS. Safe, good and worldwide accepted


Competition in this field is good only for banks, not for customers. Last thing I want is to use different payment methods moving all over the world

Google pay exists and is as safe as Apple Pay. And again nobody is asking you too switch. Why is no company allowed to compete with Apple in a fair way?
Also the biggest reason it’s worldwide accept is because Mastercard and visa are accepted by most merchants also here in Europe.

 

[jgreg728]

This is probably the only EU mandate I'm very eh about. I'm sure Apple Pay will remain the popular standard but if banks pull away from this like car companies have been for CarPlay then it'll REALLY suck. Options for the consumer should also still include Apple's own options as well.

 

[Hinza]

How can someone trust in Banks willing to fairly compete in beyond my understanding. Banks are the worst entity on the planet.

Exactly. I’m astonished in seeing people here trusting banks about client satisfaction.
Before Apple Pay NFC payments were a joke.

In which parallel universe? Google wallet was irrelevant before Apple Pay … it improved only after Apple ‘s big move to spread Apple Pay worldwide

Apple is as bad as the banks and they have as much money as the banks. Apple even has a savings account now. They are only interested in your money.
Apple has proven with a lot of products and their pricing that they don’t care. Money is the only thing. Also the reason why they are the richest company in the world.

 

[Hinza]

Competition is good. But Apple take such a minuscule cut in Apple Pay transaction processing, the consumer isn’t affected in the slightest at the checkout.

What would be absolutely awful is having to install a separate payment application at your bank’s request because they could shave 0.0001% off their expenses.

Digital payments are expensive for merchants. Especially for very small merchants. Google pay doesn’t ask for any money. Why should Apple get a cut? At least allow fair competition, then the customer can chose. Price decrease for customers when there is a free market. Many examples for this.

 

[hans1972]

That’s great! It’s good to see some fair competition in this market! 😊😊

It's not great. Vipps is owned by the traditional banks. It makes it almost impossible for any other payment system other than EMV (which is already established) to compete in Norway and win.

 

[hans1972]

Oh yes finally!
Competition is good! Hope more banks follow.

It's a win for traditional banks which owns the company behind Vipps.

 

[Ctrlos]

It is a duopoly, which is why a VISA and Mastercard have made similar binding commitments under EU Antritrust rules. Specifically, regarding interchange fees. Youre quite ignorant assuming antitrust regulation is only applied to Apple.

I didn't assume it was. I still don't see dozens of providers lining up to replace Visa though.

 

[hans1972]

You're the one to ask then, as someone living in Norway and with opportunity to see this firsthand, do you see any benefit to the consumer from this? Is there any practical reason to prefer this to Apple Pay? Or is this just another example of the bank wanting to cut out the intermediary to keep the percentages?

Vipps is owned by almost all the traditional banks in Norway. Norway largest bank (about 25% marketshare) is the largest owner and has always refused to allow Apple Pay with their cards.

This will allow banks to stop supporting Apple Pay and refer customers to Vipps.

Why? Because Vipps is installed on close to 100% of adult's smartphones.

This is a win for all the banks in Norway, especially the biggest one, and merchants.

The user doesn't get any financial benefit at all.

 

[LV426]

Digital payments are expensive for merchants. Especially for very small merchants. Google pay doesn’t ask for any money. Why should Apple get a cut? At least allow fair competition, then the customer can chose. Price decrease for customers when there is a free market. Many examples for this.

Merchants do not pay anything for Apple Pay transactions. The payment arrangements are between the user's card company and Apple. Card companies can and do charge merchants a lot, but the Apple transaction fees card companies pay are minuscule in comparison (0.15% or thereabouts).

The reason that Apple get a cut is because they provide a service that benefits the customer and the card company. The amount paid to Apple is also effectively a cheap form of insurance for the card company, since Apple assume part liability for loss due to fraud.

 

[hans1972]

The problem with Apple Pay is that it prevents national payment systems from operating seamlessly, you have to use some clunky third-party apps. Not anymore

The national payment system is usually operated by banks. Banks should loose.

This only strengthens the traditional banks in Norway since almost all the banks participate in Vipps.

 

[Zest28]

What's the point of innovating anymore? Because if you are a big USA company, the EU decides that your tech should be socialized and everybody should leech of it for free and make money of the tech you build.

I said it before, Tim Cook should have simply put Android on the EU version of the iPhone and call it a day. Let Google deal with them.

But this is also the big difference between China and the EU. In China, they can actually develop stuff themselves. HarmonyOS is now bigger than iOS in China for example. That is how China competes against iOS and Android.

 

[platinumaqua]

I pretty much stopped using Apple Pay ever since all my cards started getting RFID tap to pay. It's certainly less devastating to lose my card than to lose my phone.

 

[surferfb]

Vipps is owned by almost all the traditional banks in Norway. Norway largest bank (about 25% marketshare) is the largest owner and has always refused to allow Apple Pay with their cards.

This will allow banks to stop supporting Apple Pay and refer customers to Vipps.

Why? Because Vipps is installed on close to 100% of adult's smartphones.

This is a win for all the banks in Norway, especially the biggest one, and merchants.

The user doesn't get any financial benefit at all.

And I suspect now Norway's largest bank will never support Apple Pay. Customers lose.

 

[ChrisA]

The reason you would use a third-party NFC payment system rather than Apple's Wallet app is NOT because it copies the Wallet app, but because it does something than wallet app can't do.

The first thing I can think of is check-splitting, What if the app did simultaneous peer-to-peer funds transfer and then paid the restaurant with just one of the phones. It could solve the check-spit problem.

And of course if the app could split a bill it would allow paying ANYONE with a credit card. Even at a garage sale in front of my house, I would be able to take CC payments and not have to ask for cash. (Not funds transfer, but actually CC payments with all that implies for consumer protection.)

Finally the fees could be different, the third party could compete on price what if they give you more of a kickback from the transaction fee?

A company that is truly innovative would do MORE than simply copy the existing Apple app.