Apple Pay coming to Japan

Japan’s major financial brands will also support Apple Pay, so shoppers can make purchases in numerous country’s largest stores, at neighborhood shops and restaurants, and from online merchants.

Apple still needs to negotiate fees with financial institutions in Japan and establish deals with retailers and service providers that use the FeliCa readers, a process that will take some time. The iPhone 7 is key to rolling out its mobile payments service in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Though the new iPhone being unveiled Wednesday will roll out worldwide this fall, Apple Pay likely will not launch in Japan until next year.

In the United States and elsewhere, mobile payments use a wireless technology called NFC.

Apple Pay, the company’s mobile payment service, will come to Japan in October.

The launch of Apple Pay in Japan makes it the latest global expansion of the payment method since its launch in 2014. Apple Pay is also expanding to New Zealand and Russian Federation, the company said. “As more customers turn to their phones to shop for their homes, we are pleased to deliver an even more convenient checkout experience with Apple Pay”.

“Beginning in October, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 users will be able to make purchases in stores anywhere Suica, iD or QUICPay is accepted, encompassing almost two-thirds of all transactions at Japan’s largest merchants”, Apple adds.

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. You can also stop the ability to make payments with Apple Pay on iCloud.com.

By paying with Apple Pay, your transactions are encrypted between your devices and Apple Pay servers, and the online merchant won’t need to save your actual credit card number, adding another layer of protection.

Apple Pay will arrive on the web alongside the launch of iOS 10, which rolls out September 13. Apple’s 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.