MXC has been in full damage control mode ever since its partners began blocking Apple Pay at stores, and while the consortium behind CurrentC claims there aren’t any fees for supporting Apple Pay, its partners should think twice before defecting.
In an interview with The Verge, MXC CEO Dekkers Davidson revealed what happens to stores that ignore the Apple Pay ban, stating merchants have to ultimately make the best decision for their businesses, but there are consequences for breaking ranks.
“There are consequences, so if you decide to not keep the agreement that you made with the other merchants we’re not going to put a lot of energy in helping get those merchants launched in the near term.
In other words: “Break our Apple Pay ban and you’ll be one of the last merchants to get CurrentC.”
Those consequences don’t sound too bad, considering Apple Pay already has more than 1 million users, and CurrentC isn’t even expected to launch until next year. And who knows if the QR-based wallet will enjoy the quick success of NFC solutions like Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Meijer grocery stores have been the only MCX partner to ignore the Apple Pay ban, but Davidson says his startup’s focus will be on on partners that are “keeping connected” to one another, explaining that merchants invested too much capital, time and talent into CurrentC to jump onto other platforms like Apple Pay yet.
Tim Cook dismissed the attacks on Apple Pay, calling the ban a “skirmish,” and said retailers who aren’t loved by their customers aren’t relevant. Meanwhile, Davidson has backpedaled on the ApplePay ban recently, saying it will last “months, not years.”
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
30 responses to “CurrentC threatens to punish stores for adopting Apple Pay”
“Break our Apple Pay ban and you’ll be one of the last merchants to get CurrentC.”
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I thought they they were gong to threaten merchants.
Sounds like they are doing merchants a favor, really.
Words to the effect that “merchants can’t afford extra effort for other platforms” is hilarious, considering CVS and Rite-Aid unwittingly supported ApplePay without lifting a finger. Probably took more effort to figure out how to shut it off.
“CurrentC threatens to punish stores for adopting Apple Pay”
Hmmm, so-called “CurrentC” sounds more like North Korea, Russia, Microsoft… or the Republican party. Good luck with that. Personally, I can’t wait for the laughable retractions of those bans.
Apple Pay is already changing the way people purchase goods and services, and CurrentC is changing nothing more than the way they’re viewed… which is horribly.
Now that you mention it, The Republican Party does share a lot with Putin, not even kidding.
Except of course for the fact that the former Soviet Union met its end as a result of vigorous opposition by a certain Republican “tear down this wall” president, and others who shared his ideology. The Democrat Party wasn’t all that thrilled with it all. They viewed the Soviets as statist fellow-travelers. Statists are far more prone to “threatening”, or “punishing”, as these are necessary for their survival.
Planetary economics and public resistance were what took down the Berlin Wall and the former Soviets. Ronnie Raygun was nothing but a mentally damaged puppet for the fascists and corporatists who NOW run the USA since the neocon infestation of the US government like a dirty kitchen filled with cockroaches.
At least you tinfoil folk are entertaining in your insanity!
Which President has threatened that he will do it without the lawfully elected Congress if they don’t pass laws he wants – wasn’t a Republican…Gary below is right, the people in East Berlin would still be Soviet puppets but for President Reagan…this political bashing is no better or different than MXC’s response.
Oops, I opened the inevitable can of worms discussion. You guys are ranting political. Wrong thread for that. See ya’ later… elsewhere.
Uh… You _did_ start the political mudslinging. What did you expect? Even threw in a jab at a competing OS. Lucky this is an Apple site. Troll bait often? Lol
Uh… I did try to bow out gracefully, and uh… you’re not having it. But mudslinging? That’s a liiiiitle overstated, don’t you think?
Now I’m gone, but please… feel free to rant on.
Looks like someones got an election night hangover. Sorry for your luck!
CurrentC = Fail (Cumbersome & Already Hacked)
Apple Pay = Win (Easy & Secure)
Take your pic….
Bye Bye CurrentC
What is this, a payment cartel? This consortium sounds like bad news all around.
“Look, guys, if you break the agreement and use a quick and successful payment method, that is easy to use and already known by everyone, and that has so much demand that made android and iOS users unite, we promise you, we won’t, and I repeat, we won’t be giving you our convoluted, already hated by everyone and hacked-before-launch payment method. Consequences will never be the same.”
OH SNAPPPPP SOME ONE CALL THE BURN UNIT> WE HAVE A SMOKER, LOL
There is absolutely nothing in the article that talks about threatening.
CurrentC is going to enter a world of IP Issues when they go live. I know of at least 5 patents and 2 patent applications that read on their system. So good luck protecting your “clients” when that happens.
Get used to read papers with the words “contributory infringement” “induced infringements” “Treeble damages”
I heard there was “Trouble with Tribbles” but it’s news to me that when such troubles arise it can lead to “Treeble damages.”
Even if Current C does fine Walmart or other store they not only can afford it,but will benefit and make twice as much by dropping them.
I shop at Meijer regularly – I’ve noticed that places like Walmart, Lowes and Target have all upgraded their payment terminals to new 7″ touchscreen Verifone models, Meijer hasn’t updated their terminals. They have accepted MC PayPass and Visa PayWave for years, and are still using the same terminals. I don’t think Meijer has done much investing in CurrentC … at least not as much as the others have apparently.
It’s MCX not MXC. Please get it right if you’re going to write an article.
I think the author is under the impression CurrentC is being put out by the producers of Most Extreme Elimination Challenge?
Only merchant on their list I actually shop is Banana Republic, so I could care less for MCX.
It’s MCX, not MXC and, contrary to your claim, Meijer isn’t the only MCX a member to accept Apple Pay. I paid with it at Shop Rite last week.
I used Apple Pay yesterday at Hess. The clerk said it doesn’t work, I put the phone up to the terminal and my credit card appeared. Did the touch ID, done, hit credit on the terminal paid, even printed out a paper receipt.
What happens if this gets really ugly and Apple says that CurrentC duplicates features already part of the phone and boots it from the App Store?
That’s not much of a threat. A threat would be to sue you for $1 Million for breaking the contract to use Apple Pay/Google Wallet to satisfy several million customers that will be using it versus CurrentC.
So MCX is the new axis of evil!