Apple Pay has launched in India with support for eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards, giving users a new way to make contactless payments at stores, in apps and online through the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
The service is available to Axis Bank credit-card users who add their eligible cards to Apple Wallet. Apple said the cards can be used at thousands of merchants across India and anywhere that accepts near-field communication, or NFC, transactions. The launch expands the range of digital payment tools available to Indian consumers, although card support is limited to Axis Bank at the initial stage.
Users can add an eligible card through the latest version of the Axis Bank app or directly through the Wallet app on an iPhone. For an in-store payment, users can double-click the side or Home button, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode when prompted, and hold the top of the iPhone or the display of an Apple Watch near a contactless payment terminal.
Apple Pay can also be used for purchases on the iPhone and iPad through participating apps and websites. Mac support will be added soon, Apple said. The service is designed to reduce the need for users to repeatedly enter card, contact and shipping details during online transactions. Cardholders will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their cards.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice-president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said India’s digitally oriented population was embracing a cashless future while expecting high standards of security and privacy. She said Apple Pay allows users to pay by tapping in stores without an additional app, PIN or one-time password, while also avoiding repeated entry of payment information online.
Apple said the actual card number is not stored on the device or its servers and is not shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned to the card, encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element. Apple also said it does not retain transaction information that can be linked back to the user. Transactions remain between the user, merchant and card issuer.
If an iPhone is lost or stolen, users can use the Find My app to locate the device, lock it or suspend payments. Mastercard said its tokenisation technology protects each Apple Pay transaction with a unique, cryptographically secured token. Visa said the launch combines Apple’s consumer interface with its payments network and tokenisation capabilities.
At launch, Apple Pay will be accepted by participating merchants and services including Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato. Apple said it worked with payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to bring the service to merchant networks. More merchants and apps are expected to be added over time, according to the company.
Apple Pay is currently available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with more than 11,000 bank and network partners globally. In India, the next expansion of bank and card support will determine how broadly the service enters the country’s already competitive digital payments market.
