People asking about what Apple Pay is, and how it works, are usually those seeking a simple method of making mobile payments on their Apple devices (such as their iPhone or Apple Watch). It was designed to work anywhere that takes contactless payments.
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With Apple Pay, you can make payments via an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, at grocery stores, subway stations, taxis, etc.
All you need to do is to add your preferred payment method (such as your credit and debit cards) to the Apple-powered device and make convenient payments with just a touch.
How Does Apple Pay Work?
The first and major step involved is to ensure you add your card (either a credit card or debit card) to your wallet, and it is swiftly configured to work in settings that support contactless card payments.
With the sophistication of your Apple device, you can simply hold it close to the payment terminal, and the payment system will instantly detect the device, prompting you to insert your passcode to complete the payment.
It works with iPhones that have Face ID as well as most iPhones that come with Touch ID. It also works on Apple Watches, iPads with Face ID or Touch ID, Macs that have Touch ID (and those with a linked iPhone or Watch).
Who Can Accept Apple Pay?
Apple Pay works anywhere that accepts contactless payments, and there are numerous stores, apps, and websites around the world where users can make purchases with ease through Apple Pay. In the United States alone, 90 percent of retailers are accepting Apple Pay as a payment method.
When next you take a taxi, ask if you are not sure, and you will discover that there is a large possibility that payment can be made for the ride via Apple Pay too.
On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, users can subscribe to the likes of Apple TV, Apple News, Apple Music, etc with Apple Pay – just as they can purchase apps and games on the App Store using the platform.
It is also possible to transfer money with Apple Pay and Apple Cash to someone else using an Apple device. As an Apple Pay user, you even have the liberty to request money with the platform, and the other person can send money to you via Apple Pay.
Who Can Receive Money From It?
Before you can receive money from Apple Pay, you must first set up an Apple Cash account, which can only be possible if you are 18 years old and above, and you live in the U.S. with a supported Apple device.
You must also have two-factor authentication set up with your Apple ID, and a legitimate bank debit card you are to add to the platform.
As for merchants in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire who use Paystack as their payment processor, they can receive payment from their customers in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and other Apple Pay supported countries.
If you are one of these merchants, you will need to enable international payments, and this channel supports GHS, NGN, KES, ZAR and USD* currencies.
How Does It Work To A Person?
- To accept a personal payment, ensure you have set up Apple Pay on your device, and you can simply open your wallet (the app can be found on your home screen) and get it running.
- After launching your wallet app, move to your card spot and tap on it, and it will bring a list of recent transactions.
- Proceed to click on the specific payment transaction you want to accept, and you will be shown the option to accept the inbound payment.
- Once you click on accept, the money is in your Apple Cash already.
- You can transfer it to your bank account from there or use it to make payment at any vendor that supports Apple Pay as a payment option.
What Happens When You Accept Apple Pay?
When you accept Apple Pay as a payment option, you are giving more opportunities to Apple users to send money to you with great ease and convenience. Since its inception, millions of people around the world have embraced the seamless and innovative solution for their payment needs, as Apple already has a reputation built over the years.
A lot of people prefer making their payments with their Apple Pay and they can easily send money to you if you opt in too – either for personal or business purposes. When you accept Apple Pay as a payment method, you expand your tentacles to a wider reach.
Conclusion
Apple Pay makes payments easier for Apple users, plus it is safe. You don’t have to worry about your card numbers being passed to merchants after making a payment because your card details aren’t stored on Apple’s servers.
There is even the option of not sharing one’s email address with merchants when transacting online, through the Hide My Email feature that simply generates unique email addresses which instantly forward to one’s inbox.
Innovative features like this, with great emphasis on security and privacy, make Apple Pay a famous payment method in the United States and other parts of the world.