Apple Pay Coming to France, Switzerland and Hong Kong

Apple Pay is about to undergo a dramatic expansion. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced that its popular payment solution will be rolled out in France, Switzerland and Hong Kong within the next few months.

France will be an important market for Apple because it marks the first time the App will be available in Eurozone and on the European continent. That would pave the way for its introduction throughout the European Union; and in Germany.

Switzerland would be a good test for smaller countries with their own currencies such as Sweden. Apple Pay’s adoption there will be a signal that the app is accepted by some of the world’s most conservative bankers. That could help the app reach smaller markets and acceptance with the world’s rich many of whom regularly visit Switzerland.

Hong Kong is one of the world’s top shopping destinations and the gateway to China. It is also a major international banking center like Switzerland. Having Apple Pay accepted there will help popularize it with world travelers.

Retailers Accepting Apple Pay in New Countries

Exact dates for the roll out were not revealed in the announcement made at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference, Mac Rumors reported. The rollout should be son because the names of many of the banks and retailers that will accept Apple Pay in those nations were made available.

Retailers accepting Apple Pay in France include: the Apple Store, Bocage, Boulager, Dior, Le Bron March, Louis Vuitton, Orange, Pret a Manger and Sephora. French banks supporting Apple Pay Including Carrefour Banque, Banque Populaire, Boon, Caissee Epargne and Ticket Restaurant.

Interestingly enough a number of retailers that will accept Apple Pay in Hong Kong still do not accept it in the USA. Those retailers include: 7-Eleven, Yum Brands subsidiaries; Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut, and Starbucks. Other Hong Kong retailers that could accept Pay include McDonalds, Pacific Coffee, Senryo, ThreeSixty, the Apple Store, Lane Crawford and Mannings.

Apple Pay will be supported by several of Hong Kong’s largest banks including HSBC, the Bank of China, the Bank of East Asia, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered.

Swiss retailers that accept Apple Pay will include ALDI Suisse, the Apple Store, Avec, Hublot, K Kiosk, Lidl, Louis Vuitton, Mobilezone, Press & Brooks, SPAR, and TAG Huer. One of these retailers; Aldi, does not accept Apple Pay at its American locations. Swiss banks that will support Apple Pay include Corner Bank, Bonus Card and Swiss Bankers.

Mac Rumors reported that Apple Pay will support Visa and MasterCard in Hong Kong, Switzerland and France. American Express (NYSE: AXP) will be supported in Hong Kong not in the other locations.

It looks as if Apple Pay is more successful in some foreign countries than its homeland. No major new retailers had appeared on its US website as of June 14, 2016. At least three major US retailers Albertson’s, Big Lots JC Penney appeared in the coming soon section of its website. Those retailers have sat there for months.

Apple Pay Coming to Websites and Mobile Apps

Apple Pay has also been expanded to a number of websites in a move that seems designed to head off Chase Pay from JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM). Chase Pay is currently only available in a number of websites and Apps.

ReCode reported that Apple Pay will be expanded to websites and mobile payment solutions offered by retailers. Apple Pay is already available in Exxon’s mobile payment app for tis filling stations. This is important because it opens the door for Apple Pay to be used on major websites like Amazon and Walmart.com.

News reports indicate that Apple is developing its own rewards program for Apple Pay which will make the app more like credit cards. That too is designed to counter Chase Pay which already supports rewards cards for Disney, Southwest Airlines, Ritz-Carlton Hotels and United Airlines.

It looks as if Apple Pay might be more successful and more readily accepted overseas than in the United States.

Android Pay at More Stores

Android Pay from Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is now accepted by several major new retailers.

Walgreens, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Wegmans, Verizon stores, Subway, Pep Boys, Office Depot, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, McDonalds, Meijer, and Staples are now among the retailers listed on the Android Pay website. That means Android Pay is emerging as a credible threat to Apple Pay.

Interestingly enough some major Apps including Uber, GrubHub, and Airbnb are not yet supported by Android Pay. Those Apps are coming soon but Uber’s archrival Lyft is supported by Android Pay.

Payment apps have arrived but not necessarily in the United States. It looks as if this technology is far from acceptance by the American people.