Apple Pay could arrive in Brazil next

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Brazil would bring the number of supported Apple Pay markets around the world to 26.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay could be about to launch in Brazil, based on sources familiar with the matter, and terms and conditions issued by one of the country’s major banks.

Users of iOS devices who attempt to add a Visa Platinum Personnalité card from Itaú Unibanco to their Apple Wallet receive a service agreement concerning the use of the card in a digital wallet. Previously, attempts to add this card resulted in a message saying that it was not supported — which is still the case for other bank cards in the country.

No specific date is announced for Apple Pay’s launch, although it could be any day now. Brazil is one of the pricier places in the world to buy an iPhone — due to the fact that it applies a 60 percent flat import tax on most manufactured retail goods, including Apple devices.

Should Apple Pay launch in the country it will bring the total of Apple Pay markets around the world to 26. Most recently, Apple Pay launched in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.

The service first launched in the United States in 2014. It is currently gaining momentum, although it is proving to be slow going. Despite being the leading mobile payments solution, recent data from payment systems consultant First Annapolis suggests that only around 27 percent of eligible iPhone owners have ever used Apple Pay. Only 8 percent use it on a weekly basis.

To help increase usage of Apple Pay, Apple has taken steps such as bringing Apple Pay to Wells Fargo ATMs, and launching its Apple Pay Cash service — allowing users in the U.S. to send cash to their friends via their iPhones. Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue has confirmed that Apple plans to also bring Apple Pay to India, the world’s biggest market after China by population size.

Do you use Apple Pay? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Mac Magazine

Via: Apple Insider

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