By most measures, Apple Pay's first two months of availability have been a success. The system has quickly become the most widely used mobile payment method in the United States, thanks to early adoption by major banks and retailers, including McDonald's, Walgreens and Whole Foods. This week, Apple Pay has received a big boost with the announcement that dozens of new partners will begin using it effective immediately.
Barclays and TD Bank are among the new financial institutions whose cards will be compatible with Apple Pay. With the latest additions, 90 percent of all credit cards in the U.S. now give their holders the option to sign up for the service. New retail partners include grocery chains Albertsons and Winn-Dixie, Staples Inc. and the Amway Arena, home to the NBA's Orlando Magic, which becomes the first sports venue to install it.
There are no official usage numbers for Apple Pay, which is currently only available in the U.S., but the figure of 1 million activations during the first 72 hours was widely reported. What is clear is that adoption has been wide enough that the company is now planning to take it global. No statement has been released, but a job posting appeared on Apple's website explaining that "Apple Pay is a new and exciting area in Apple that is set to expand across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa."
As the company expands into the corporate and retail worlds, businesses should seek the assistance of Apple support specialists to help them take full advantage of the stream of innovative products coming out of Cupertino.
