TechCrunch:
While we are going to have to wait a little longer for Apple to launch payments in iMessage, this weekend, Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s VP of Apple Pay, announced a series of other milestones for the digital wallet and payments service that competes against the likes of Android Pay from Google (which today announced its own expansions), Samsung Pay, and others efforts from retailers and banks.
The advances point to how Apple wants to steal a march when it comes to using phones as a proxy for a card or cash, and there is some anecdotal evidence that it’s working: merchants and others who have partnered with Apple say that Apple Pay is accounting for 90 percent of all mobile contactless transactions globally in markets where it’s available.
That is a remarkable achievement. I rarely use Apple Pay but I’m always impressed by how easy it is to use. I bet that lack of “friction” is a big part of why Apple Pay is so popular.
I use Apple Pay everywhere that accepts Apple Pay. Even when I am looking for a quick snack, I will pick up a McDonald’s fish sandwich over a Burger King burger just because McDonald’s accepts Apple Pay. … And I do not even like McDonald’s.
In Canada, Apple Pay is great since contactless payment is widespread. I would say that I can use it 95% of the time.
Yeah, I’m at the stage where I grumble if I have to pull out my wallet. Especially if it’s a relatively new store!
BurgerKing in Switzerland accepts ApplePay as does McD. But depending on who owns the franchise or either brand, you may be SOL if you try to use AMEX.
I should probably try AP sometime.