“Apple introduced its mobile payments service to Britain on Tuesday as Barclays became the last major UK bank to sign up for the U.S. tech giant’s effort to capitalise on the increasing comfort among British consumers with making tap-and-go purchases,” Eric Auchard reports for Reuters. “A quarter of a million outlets will offer Apple Pay, from London Underground stations to coffee shops, retailers and travel businesses, making it more widely available than when it first launched in the United States last year.”
“‘We actually think that the UK can be our leading market for Apple Pay, given the unique characteristics (of the market),’ said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay,” Auchard reports. “NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Banco Santander were among the first banks to begin offering Apple Pay to their clients on Tuesday, and it will eventually be supported by all major British banks.”
“The last holdout, Barclays, confirmed on Tuesday that its customers will be able to use Apple Pay at an unspecified date in the future,” Auchard reports. “HSBC will follow later in July and other major banks plan to offer it in the autumn.”
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MacDailyNews Take: Welcome to the future, Barclays!