Tag: Apple Pay

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple’s iPhone hardware subscription service reportedly delayed

Apple is reportedly still working on an iPhone hardware subscription service alongside its already announced ‘Apple Pay Later’ program.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant is developing four different payment-related projects, including its previously announced ‘Apple Card Savings Account’ and ‘Apple Pay Later.’ The other two platforms, its iPhone hardware subscription program and ‘Apple Pay Monthly Installments,’ haven’t been announced yet.

Bloomberg says that Apple’s iPhone subscription platform was initially set to launch in 2021 alongside the iPhone 13 and then the iPhone 14 in 2022. However, it’s suffered from “engineering and technical setbacks that have led to slow progress and missed deadlines.” The project is rumoured to still be in the works, however.

In Canada, you can already purchase the iPhone, iPad and Mac on a monthly installment plan. For example, the iPhone 14 is available for $45.79 per month over 24 months at 0 percent APR. This offer is provided to Apple through Paybright by Affirm. The U.S. also offers a similar monthly payment plan.

Unlike these financing options, the rumoured subscription service will feature a “yet-to-be-determined monthly fee that depends on which device the user chooses.” Apple Pay Later differs from both of these offers in that it will be open to more devices and is tied to the Apple Card.

Gurman says that Apple Pay Later will launch in the U.S. in “March or April.” It’s unclear when the hardware subscription platform or Apple Card Savings Account will release in the United States.

It’s important to note that we don’t know if Apple plans to release its rumoured iPhone hardware subscription program in Canada. While we eventually got Apple Pay, the service arrived several months after its U.S. release, and we still don’t have the Apple Card here. With this in mind, if the service does come here, it will likely be well after other regions.

Source: Bloomberg Via: 9to5Mac 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple to launch a variety of software and features in 2023, including next-gen CarPlay

2023 has only just begun and before Apple launches iOS 17, there are a lot of in-development features yet to release by the company. Apple has been very transparent with its intentions to introduce new features for its core software, including CarPlay, HomeKit, Apple Music, and Apple Pay.

For instance, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022, Apple revealed its next-generation CarPlay update. Providing a look at the new version of its infotainment system, CarPlay is due to introduce multiple support screens. In an ideal sense, CarPlay may provide an alternative to the UI of each manufacturer to highlight speed, fuel levels, temperature and more via the instrument cluster. Radio controls are also said to be provided. Additionally, personalization and widgets for Weather and Music will also be on the vehicle’s dashboard. Unfortunately, Apple has announced neither a release date nor which cars will support the new CarPlay system.

In 2021, Apple acquired the classical music streaming service Primephonic. As part of the acquisition, Apple planned to integrate the platform and its focus on classical music into its own app. The intended roadmap of launching an Apple Music Classical app in 2022 didn’t exactly pan out. For one reason or another, Apple has yet to provide an update on when this app may launch. This has led some to believe that it’s been scrapped. However, there’s not been any concrete evidence of this yet.

Upon the launch of iOS 16.2, Apple released the new architecture for HomeKit on an opt-in basis. The intended vision was to give users “improved performance and reliability of the accessories in your home.” However, Apple quickly has to delist the architecture in December due to an overwhelming amount of complaints and criticism. As such, many are waiting for Apple to re-release the software as the company stated that “A fix will be available soon.” Though, there’s no telling when this will be.

Safari on iOS and iPadOS is expected to receive support for web push notifications. Once again, Apple announced this feature at WWDC 2022. Once available, Safari will be able to push notifications from websites much like it’s able to on Mac. As of now, this feature has been absent in the recent iOS 16 beta. However, Apple claims that it will launch sometime in 2023.

iMessage Contact Key Verification is another feature on track for the year. This feature provides an extra layer of security for those who may need to verify who they are speaking with. For instance, government officials, journalists, etc. are able to note if an unauthorized device is associated with a recipient’s account. The company stated this feature is launching “globally” in 2023.

Finally, 2023 may hold a couple of Apple Pay software features. The first is Apple Pay Later, which enables users to split purchases into four equal payments with zero percent interest across six weeks. The second is the dedicated Apple Card Savings Account, which allows users to automatically deposit Daily Cash regards into the account. This feature heavily utilizes Apple Wallet and enables users to track their balance and account growth. Unfortunately, Apple Pay Later and the latter feature are exclusive to the U.S. There’s no telling if these will ever come to Canada down the road.

Source: 9to5Mac

Categories
Mobile Syrup

iOS 16.1 to allow users to delete Wallet app amid antitrust concerns

iOS 16.1 is expected to finally allow users to delete the Wallet app from their device. Apple Pay has been a constant on the iPhone for many years, installed by default. However, antitrust concerns continue to surface with many criticizing Apple over the app’s dominance.

Currently, any new iPhone comes with the Wallet app installed alongside News, Podcasts, and other first-party apps. This week, iOS beta 7 and iPadOS 16.1 beta 1 were both released to developers. Thanks to code found within the latest iOS beta 7, it appears as though the Wallet app will become deletable thanks to iOS 16.1.

Since its inception, Wallet enabled people to use the NFC feature of the iPhone to make credit card and debit payments. Additionally, tickets, passes, and other keys can be added to the Wallet app and used via Apple Pay or QR scanning.

Apple’s Wallet app has become quite divisive for some users and many governing bodies. The company restricts the use of other NFC-enabled apps. Therefore, priority is placed on the use of the Wallet app and Apple Pay. The European Union has criticized Apple for this restriction. Likewise, Hagen Berman has filed a lawsuit against the company for forcing banks to utilize Apple Pay in order to service iPhone users.

In Canada, Apple Pay and, subsequently, the Wallet app are expanding to support new services. Most recently, Apple Pay payments were enabled on Go Transit. Additionally, the Canada Post iOS app received Apple Pay support.

According to research firm Bernstein, Apple Pay is growing in popularity, so much so that the firm expects 10 percent of all card transactions to stem from Apple Pay by 2025.

Image credit:

Source: 9to5Mac

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple Pay and Credit Card Tap Payments now available on Go Transit and more

Metrolinx has finally expanded its contactless payment to support additional platforms, including Apple Pay and contactless credit card payments

Starting August 11th, Go Transit, Brampton Transit MiWay and Oakville transit support the above platforms when tapping at a Presto payment device.

This means that Presto readers now work with the iPhone or Apple Watch with Apple Pay tied to a credit card. Similar to a Presto Card, you still need to tap off when getting off at a station, so you aren’t charged twice.

Through a pilot program, contactless payments first made their way to Metrolinx transit network on the Union-Pearson Up Express line last year. The transit agency says that there have been over 28,500 credit fare payments since March 2021 and over 6,000 debit fare payments since October 2021 using contactless payment options.

“We’ve’ heard customers when they’ve asked for more flexible and convenient ways to pay their fare, and Presto contactless payment is just the latest customer improvement to deliver this – We will continue to offer new options that bring the very best experience and value to our customers and transit agency partners with Presto,” writes Metrolinx in a recent press release.

Metrolinx says it has plans to add debit payments soon alongside other transit agencies.

The transit agency added the ability to top-up Presto cards with Apple Pay back in 2015. Then in 2019, Metrolinx launched a dedicated mobile app for Android and iOS, followed by contactless reloading on iPhones in 2020.

At the time, Metrolinx senior manager of media Ann Marie Aikins said that NFC payments with the iPhone through Apple Pay would eventually arrive but didn’t offer a specific timeline.

It’s unclear why it’s taken so long for Metrolinx to introduce this feature, but it’s likely tied to upgrading its Presto payment stations and Apple being notorious for keeping the iPhone’s NFC functionality locked down.

Image credit: Metrolinx

Source: Metrolinx