Tap Down Under

eftpos comes to Apple Pay

October 18, 2017 by Beau Leave a Comment

18eftpos is finally available on Apple Pay in Australia, marking all four payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos) available for payments on iPhone and Apple Watch (and iPad and Mac for online/app payments). With eftpos only available in Australia, and currently in store only (no support for online or phone payments), it’s actually not the first country specific network to be supported by Apple, with Interac cards supported in Canada.

As what seems to be the norm these days, ANZ is first out of the gates, and is also the only bank supporting eftpos. While ‘debit’ cards have been available in Apple Pay for a while, previously they’ve been dual scheme Visa/Mastercard cards, and when you tap your phone or watch, it goes through as a ‘Credit’ transaction via the Visa/Mastercard networks. While this has some benefits (especially when it comes to chargebacks), it also usually costs a business more than an eftpos payment would.

Interestingly, Apple Wallet includes support for eftpos’ unique CHQ/SAV accounts, where you can change the account that you’re tapping with, a boon for those with multiple bank accounts linked to a single card. [Read more…] about eftpos comes to Apple Pay

Woolworths Rewards comes to the iPhone with Apple Wallet support

October 15, 2017 by Beau 16 Comments

Woolworths have become the first retailer in Australia (and one of the first worldwide, with only Walgreens, Coke and Kohl’s onboard elsewhere) to bring their ‘Woolworths Rewards’ program to Apple Wallet.

One of the main benefits (and differences) between your Woolworths Rewards card in Apple Wallet, and using other apps such as Stocard, CommBank or even Woolworths’ own apps (be it Woolworths, Woolworths Fuel or Woolworths Money), is that passes in Wallet have the ability to be transmitted over NFC.
Rather than doing the wave with your phone under the barcode reader in the hope that it’ll scan properly, you just need to tap your phone on the eftpos terminal. And even better, it works on the watch too. Plus – no need to unlock your phone or open an app. [Read more…] about Woolworths Rewards comes to the iPhone with Apple Wallet support

Why the ACCC siding with the banks against Apple will not be in consumers’ interests

August 22, 2016 by Beau Leave a Comment

David Glance, University of Western Australia

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has denied four of Australia’s banks an interim authorisation to act collectively against Apple and other third party wallet providers (Samsung and Google) in Australia.

In essence, the banks asked the ACCC to allow them to collectively negotiate with Apple over the terms of its electronic payment system Apple Pay. They have argued that Apple is stifling competition by not allowing banks direct access to the NFC wireless functionality in the iPhone so that they can create their own “digital wallets”.

The ACCC has decided not to grant their request, instead it has stated that it needs more time and more consultation before it makes a decision. [Read more…] about Why the ACCC siding with the banks against Apple will not be in consumers’ interests

ANZ and Amex the winners in Australia’s banks’ fight with Apple over payment apps

July 30, 2016 by Beau Leave a Comment

David Glance, University of Western Australia

Australia’s banks have always enjoyed a lucrative income from credit card “interchange fees”, the charges that the banks levy on merchants’ sales. These fees amount to AU $2.5 billion a year which are ultimately passed on to consumers.

Unwilling to share any of this revenue with Apple, all but ANZ and American Express have refused to adopt Apple Pay. Instead, four of the largest banks, NAB, Westpac, Commonwealth and Bendigo and Adelaide have asked Australia’s competition regulator, the ACCC, for permission to act collectively to negotiate with Apple over access for their own digital wallet products on its phones, tablets and watches.

The banks, along with their industry representatives are claiming that they are taking this action in the interest of providing “Australians with real choice and better outcomes”. They are also allegedly concerned about security and standards surrounding the way in which customers add their cards to Apple Pay. [Read more…] about ANZ and Amex the winners in Australia’s banks’ fight with Apple over payment apps

Teething issues with Amex and Android Pay in Australia

July 14, 2016 by Beau 3 Comments

Despite launching a few weeks outside Google’s own self-imposed deadline of a H1 2016 release, it seems there’s still the odd teething issue with Android Pay. Case in point, using an Amex card at some retailers/terminals, or McDonald’s for example.

During the ANZ false start last month where I was able to use an ANZ Amex card inside Android Pay, I had success at a handful of retailers like Woolworths and Subway, but an issue at McDonald’s.

After presenting your phone to the terminal, you’ll get an instant decline and the transaction fails.

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