Apple has launched Apple Pay in India, bringing its contactless payment service to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users, with Mac support planned for a later stage.
At launch, customers with Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards can add their eligible cards to Apple Pay and use them across thousands of merchants in India, as well as at locations supporting NFC payments. The service can be used for purchases in physical stores, apps and on the web without requiring users to repeatedly enter card details.
Jennifer Bailey, Vice President, Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said the launch is aimed at providing Indian consumers with a convenient payment experience while maintaining Apple’s focus on security and privacy.
Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO, Axis Bank, said the introduction of Apple Pay expands payment options for the bank’s credit card customers across the Visa and Mastercard networks and reflects the changing role of technology in everyday transactions.
Apple Pay uses tokenisation to protect payment information. The actual card number is not stored on the user’s device or Apple servers and is not shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element, a dedicated chip designed to protect payment credentials.
Transactions are authenticated using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode, depending on the Apple device. If an iPhone is lost or stolen, users can use the Find My app to locate the device, lock it or suspend payments associated with it.
Setting up Apple Pay can be done through the latest version of the Axis Bank app or directly through the Apple Wallet app. After adding an eligible card, users can make contactless payments by activating Apple Pay, authenticating the transaction and holding the iPhone or Apple Watch near a compatible payment terminal.
The service can also be used for purchases within supported apps and websites on iPhone and iPad. Apple said Mac support will be introduced soon. Customers will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their eligible cards when making payments through Apple Pay.
Apple Pay is being accepted at millions of merchant locations across India, including Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato. Apple has also worked with payment service providers including BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs and Razorpay to extend Apple Pay support across merchant networks.
Gautam Aggarwal, President, India and South Asia, Mastercard, said its tokenisation technology protects Apple Pay transactions through unique cryptographically secured tokens, while Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said the service combines Apple’s payment experience with Visa’s network and tokenisation capabilities.
Apple said Apple Pay is now available across more than 90 countries and regions and works with more than 11,000 banking and network partners globally.
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