Apple has recently announced plans to launch new “Tap to Pay'' software in the US. This software allows merchants to accept “contactless” payment from the likes of Apple Pay and other digital wallets via smartphone.  Tap to Pay makes the payment process easy by just tapping the selected contactless payment method to an iPhone with the new payment app open. This new software will only be available for iPhone XS (2018) and more recent models.

Tap to Pay cuts out the need for payment terminals and other equipment, making it easier and more convenient for businesses to accept contactless payments. Payments made through Tap and Pay are also secured by the same technological protections used by Apple Pay.  There have been no plans announced for this technology to be introduced to Australia however we do currently have many options available for contactless payments here.  Let’s take a quick look:

All of the big smartphone companies including Apple, Google and Samsung have launched contactless payment methods that allow users to link their credit cards and tap their phones to payment terminals in order to pay.

In addition to smartphone payment software, Commbank has also released a contactless payment platform which is available through the Commbank app, however, this is only available to Android Users.

There are various payment apps such as Beem It and Venmo that allow users to link their bank accounts and securely transfer money to others. This payment method is instant and avoids the delay that can occur if you belong to different banks.

Many smart watches now come with the option to connect your debit or credit card and allow you to pay by tapping your watch to a payment terminal. This option is currently available on Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung and Google Wear OS.

If you want to learn more about these contactless payment options and how to use them, check out our guide on mobile payments.

Amelia studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Journalism and Non-Fiction Writing at Macquarie University. She has experience writing as an intern for the Sydney Morning Herald where she wrote stories for the lifestyle and news sections. She has now turned to finance and is focused on researching and sharing information in an engaging and educational way.

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