Apple Pay currently only works in the U.S., but in 2015 Cupertino is looking to bridge into Europe and other countries, starting with the UK.
The rollout will happen in early 2015, but not everyone is happy with the new mobile payments service, according to The Telegraph at least one major UK bank is delaying the rollout.
The bank, which has not been disclosed, is “uncomfortable with the amount of personal and financial information Apple wants to collect about its customers.”
Apple Pay takes most of the information from the credit or debit card, allowing mobile transactions online and in-store. Apple uses the same contactless payment solution other NFC services like Google Wallet and PayPal Here use, making it universal across many retailers.
In the UK especially, contactless payment has become a big feature, available in more UK stores than U.S. Apple now needs to convince UK banks Apple Pay is a good deal, a harder task.
In the U.S., 90 percent of major banks have sided with Apple Pay, but reports say at least one major bank and several minority banks could take issues with Apple Pay, set to change the way people pay for things offline and online.
Considering Apple Pay also allows users to check recent transactions, it could be the new hub to check all ingoing and outgoing payments, removing the online banking service from the customer’s daily life.
Apple Pay also takes a small percentage of transactions from the retailer, something credit and debit card providers may be hesitant to partner with, especially since some retailers do not seem impressed with Apple Pay.
The early 2015 launch in the UK will coincide with the launch of the Apple Watch, also set for spring 2015 launch. Rumors claim the iPhone 6S will launch in spring too, but it is far fetched to think an iPhone will launch in the first half of the year.
