American Express customers can now enjoy Apple Pay in Canada

Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president in charge of Apple Pay says that American Express cards are easiest to support at launch. Photo By Gadjo C. Sevilla/ Canadianreviewer.com

Canadians who are American Express customers and who own iPhones and Apple Watches, rejoice! Apple Pay is now available in Canada. Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president in charge of Apple Pay says that American Express cards are easiest to support at launch because AmEx is both the payment network operator and the card issuer, whereas other payment networks like Visa and MasterCard work with financial institutions to issue cards that work on their network.

This writer tried installing both Visa credit cards and a CIBC debit card into the Wallet app on his iPhone 6S but while the app easily scanned and grabbed the necessary information, it couldn't approve the cards and enter them into Apple Pay. 

Apple Pay is supported in-stores at a number of retailers including McDonald’s, Walmart, and the Apple Store. iPhones and watches up to in-store contactless payment terminals, which will send encrypted data to the merchants and record the transaction in the user’s app. Apple Pay will also be available for online purchases made through iPads and iPhones on apps including Domino’s, Starbucks and Groupon.

Source: Fortune