Apple Pay has made its debut in Singapore, bringing the total number of countries adopting Apple’s mobile payment service to six — also including the U.S., Canada, China, Australia, and United Kingdom.
As in Australia and Canada, the service is initially available only for American Express customers, although Apple says it looks forward to new banks and card providers joining throughout 2016.
“Starting today, Apple Pay is available for eligible American Express issued credit cards in Singapore, so customers can now pay in an easy, secure, and more private way,” Apple Pay head Jennifer Bailey told iMore in a statement. “We’re also thrilled that credit and debit cards from Singapore’s most popular banks, including DBS, UOB, and Standard Chartered will work with Apple Pay in the coming months – so even more people can experience the best way to pay from their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.”
Apple Pay’s arrival makes a lot of sense in Singapore — as Apple both continues to push its NFC payment service, while also focusing on the Singapore market. Earlier this year, photos surfaced online showing work underway on creating the first Apple Store in Singapore. The venue is located in Singapore’s upscale retail building Knightsbridge.
In a statement about the brick-and-mortar retail store, but also applicable to the launch of Apple Pay, Apple’s retail guru Angela Ahrendts praised Singapore as, “an incredible international city and shopping destination.”
Thanks to Apple, that shopping just got a little bit easier, too!
Source: Apple
