Apple is streamlining contactless payments with the aim of empowering local businesses, giant and tiny, to accept in-person contactless payments on iPhones.
From small to medium-sized businesses — including tradies and market stall holders — to large retailers and hospitality groups, merchants in Australia can now use their iPhone to accept seamlessly and securely Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets using their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app. No additional hardware or payment terminal will be needed.
“Australia is a nation of entrepreneurs and innovators, and small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of the country’s workforce, employing millions of Australians. Now, with Tap to Pay on iPhone it’s easier than ever for businesses of any size to seamlessly accept contactless payments using only their iPhone, wherever they do business,” says Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
Although contactless payments in Australia are widely used, with the introduction of Tap to Pay on iPhone, Australian businesses can now accept contactless payments from wherever they do business.
“The convenience of Tap to Pay on iPhone empowers Australian businesses to offer easy, secure, and private contactless payment experiences to their customers, and help them run and grow their business,” says Jennifer.
Westpac and Tyro Payments are the first payment platforms in Australia to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to their business customers. Additional payment platforms and apps, including ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions, Stripe, Till Payments, and Zeller, will come online in the coming months.
And in more things Apple…
Apple this week has previewed software features for cognitive, vision, hearing and mobility accessibility, along with innovative tools for individuals who are non-speaking or at risk of losing their ability to speak. These updates draw on advances in hardware and software, include on-device machine learning to ensure user privacy, and expand on Apple’s commitment to making products for everyone.
“At Apple, we’ve always believed that the best technology is technology built for everyone,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Today, we’re excited to share incredible new features that build on our long history of making technology accessible, so that everyone has the opportunity to create, communicate and do what they love.”
