UK Welcoming Apple Pay

Apple Pay, the card-less, cashless payment system that allows users to pay using only their smartphones, will be available outside the United States for the first time in the very near future. The United Kingdom is set to begin accepting Apple Pay, and it may be happening even sooner than anticipated.

Although Apple has yet to confirm the launch date for the UK’s Apple Pay, leaked memos from a UK supermarket as well as a now-deleted tweet from HSBC UK both make references to tomorrow, July 14, as rollout day.

Just as in the United States, UK Apple fans can use their iPhone 6 or 6 Plus or their Apple Watch to pay at grocery stores, with the aid and protection of Apple’s Touch ID technology. Users with the newer version of the iPad or iPad mini will also be able to use Apple Pay features to make online purchases.

Many of the UK’s banks have already signed on to support Apple Pay, with a spending limit of $41.80 per contactless payment. That number is expected to increase in September of this year. The British Post Office will also accept Apple Pay.

At launch, about 250,000 locations throughout the UK will accept Apple Pay. This includes Waitrose, one of the largest supermarket chains in Great Britain, and Boots, one of the largest chains of pharmacies in the United Kingdom.

With this expansion, Apple is taking the first step in spreading the convenience and efficiency throughout the world. As of right now, there has not been a lot of discussion in regards to if and how Apple Pay will be able to handle different exchange rates. If Apple can improve its payment platform to this extent, Apple Pay could instantly become the most attractive option for those who travel internationally. Apple could essentially eliminate the hassle of exchanging currency when traveling. It will be important to keep a close eye on the rollout of Apple Pay in the UK to see how successful this endeavor could potentially be.