Apple has announced the rollout of Tap to Pay on iPhone in Japan, allowing independent sellers, small merchants, and large retailers in the country to use iPhones as a payment terminal.
Introduced in February 2022, the feature allows individuals and merchants with an iPhone XS or newer to accept contactless payments through supported iPhone apps. The merchant simply holds out their iPhone, and the customer holds their iPhone, Apple Watch, another digital wallet, or contactless credit card near the device and a secure payment will be made via NFC technology.
No additional hardware or credit card machine is required to use Tap to Pay on iPhone. The feature uses NFC technology to securely authenticate contactless payments, plus the feature also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.
“In Japan, a country where innovation and tradition merge, new payment methods have been introduced all over the country, and at the same time, the transition from cash payment to electronic payment is progressing rapidly on the consumer side,” said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We are very pleased that through our new partnership with the payment platform, we can provide iPhone touch payment that can seamlessly support contactless payments for millions of businesses. This allows almost all iPhones in the country to be used as payment terminals without additional hardware, reducing the cost of responding to electronic payments by Japanese businesses, making it easy and secure for customers, and protecting their privacy. It will be possible to provide a contactless payment experience.”
Apple says starting today, GMO Financial Gate, Inc.’s stera tap app, Recruit Co., Ltd.’s Air Pay Touch app, and Square’s Square POS cashier app will become the first Japanese payment platforms to offer iPhone touch payments to businesses. In addition, Adyen will support it in the coming months, and it will also be available at the Apple Store in Japan. Touch Payments on iPhone supports contactless credit and debit cards from four major payment networks, including American Express, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa.
Tap to Pay on iPhone requires iPhone XS or newer models, and works for customers as any normal Apple Pay transaction would. Sellers just need to open up the app, register the sale, and present their iPhone to the buyer, who can then use an appropriate contactless payment method.
Japan becomes the ninth country to support Tap to Pay, following similar rollouts in the U.K., Australia, Taiwan, Brazil, Ukraine, France, and the Netherlands last year.