Apple Pay will soon be supported on e-commerce websites. Nowadays, people prefer to shop without going to the market. Apple has decided to make its payment services available on the websites as well, which would make online shopping much easier. On Monday, at the World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC), the company announced the launch of Apple Pay on websites.
The company’s payment system will be expanded from apps to the web. Users could soon make payments on mobile and desktop using the Safari browser. Apple Pay users will have the option to “Pay with Apple” within the browser. The users can also authenticate purchases through their TouchID either from iPhone, iPad, or the iWatch.
Previously, payment services were used only for in-app purchases, such as paying for Uber or grocery in selected stores, only. It was reported a few days ago that the company will bring the payment services on mobile websites by the end of the year, followed by desktop websites. However, the launch of the service before the due date has left analysts surprised.
Once users want to check out from a website, they will be prompted to authenticate and complete the purchase. The TouchID can be used to complete the process. If not available, users can go for the pre-authenticated iWatch to complete the purchase from the browser.
Now, retail websites will have to be integrated into the platform to make online shopping a worthwhile experience for the users. Apple said that it has already started the process. It also mentioned that it has recruited a few online retailers exclusively for its Apple Pay services.
The move to introduce the payment services on websites could have a major impact on the online mobile shopping business. People often don’t opt for purchases through their smartphone or tablet as they feel it’s complicated. Currently, most people think that the giving all the personal and financial details online can be harmful. However, Apple’s entry into the e-commerce online payment segment will transform the previous methods, provided the track record the company has had for protecting users' data.
If payment services are integrated on the web, Apple will cater to those old house people who prefer to shop on web. While smartphones and tablets may have taken over the world, people still prefer to shop on web, while they are online through desktop, as it’s easy and convenient to see those products on a large screen compared to the small ones, such as smartphones.
This move will bring Apple in direct competition with PayPal, which is well established in the online payments market. PayPal, with 179 million users, has already introduced features, like One Touch, which makes it easy for users to pay with a single tap.
It will be interesting to see how users will make their financial transactions and decide what’s best for them, once competitors, Apple Pay and PayPal, are seen listed on the same websites. Apple’s payment service for web will be available from this fall. It is highly possible that Wall Street Journal (WSJ), New York Times, Lululemon, United Airlines, Etsy, and other major firms will agree to use the payment services on their platforms. Things will heat up even further once Google launches its Android Pay for websites as well, a feature which was announced at its annual developer’s conference.
The payment service is currently available in six countries, and will soon launch in France, Hong Kong, and Switzerland this summer. Apart from this, Apple had made other big announcements including big changes to its Watch coming in WatchOS 3. The new version of the operating system will enable services like maps, Siri, and iMessage, for developers on the Watch.
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