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4254126

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Jun 20, 2017
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How likely is it, that Apple will announce in more European countries (maybe even Germany?) this earnings call on May, 1st, next week? If you consider, that it took two month for Apple to bring AP to Brazil, after the announcement on Feb. 1st. And many people are speculating, that AP will be introduced this summer. So an announcement could be possible? What do you think?

Edit: And sorry for my (very, very) bad English.

I don’t think so. They’ll now just wait for WWDC and do a big announcement then. They’ll be sure to get some applause for that. Maybe we might get the rumoured expansion of Apple Pay Cash to more countries as well.
 

MLVC

macrumors 68000
Apr 30, 2015
1,648
3,816
Maastricht, The Netherlands
How likely is it, that Apple will announce in more European countries (maybe even Germany?) this earnings call on May, 1st, next week? If you consider, that it took two month for Apple to bring AP to Brazil, after the announcement on Feb. 1st. And many people are speculating, that AP will be introduced this summer. So an announcement could be possible? What do you think?

Edit: And sorry for my (very, very) bad English.

If they announce it, chances are it will be during an earnings call and not during a keynote or WWDC (unless there are other things to announce about Apple Pay as well).
 

docfred

macrumors 6502a
Feb 4, 2018
938
573
Germany
If they announce it, chances are it will be during an earnings call and not during a keynote or WWDC (unless there are other things to announce about Apple Pay as well).
Hmmmm.... don't think so. As Germany is a if not the major market in Europe for Apple, despite the low market share, chances are high, that a possible Apple Pay start in Germany would be important enough the be mentioned in a WWDC keynote. The potential market volume is huge, compared to other markets, Apple Pay already started.

And I think, Apple Pay will get some attention at the WWDC somehow or other.
 
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wSchabby

macrumors regular
Jan 5, 2018
126
121
I think you are overestimating the importance of the German Market a little bit. Credit Card Payments don't play a big role in Germany, over 50% of the payments are cash, and the only relevant card is the girocard. So I don't see the need to announce AP at WWDC. If Germany was so important, they would have announces it much earlier.

And in terms of boon: This is a total "frickel"-Solution in my opinion and is destroying all the advantages, that you would have with Apple Pay if I'd use my regular bank account/Credit Card.
 

docfred

macrumors 6502a
Feb 4, 2018
938
573
Germany
I think you are overestimating the importance of the German Market a little bit. Credit Card Payments don't play a big role in Germany, over 50% of the payments are cash, and the only relevant card is the girocard. So I don't see the need to announce AP at WWDC. If Germany was so important, they would have announces it much earlier.

And in terms of boon: This is a total "frickel"-Solution in my opinion and is destroying all the advantages, that you would have with Apple Pay if I'd use my regular bank account/Credit Card.
Your right, without GiroCard Support Apple Pay has no chance in Germany. And this is nothing special, nearly every market Apple Pay is available today has supported debit cards, even local only payment options like SuiCa in Japan or InterAc in Canada.

But this has been discussed in 24+ pages ;)


btw: numbers for the US:
32% payments in cash
27% payments in debit cards
21% payments in credit cards

And for the ongoing "Germany is cash country, Apple will never launch Apple Pay in Germany": Japan is a much more cash oriented country than Germany for example. If "cash is king" in Germany, cash would be the imperator. Though Apple Pay started there.
 

4254126

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Original poster
Jun 20, 2017
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Right guys, bad news. Very bad news.

Just came back from the Sparkasse event. I wasn't expecting to get a clear: "Yes, Apple Pay is coming." But wasn't expecting to hear what I did...

From the beginning: A fairly generic presentation about payment past-present-future. Then on to the interesting part: Girocard digital/mobile is due on the 30th July. That's the set launch date. From then on Girocard and MasterCard/Visa credit cards will be available within an updated Sparkasse app. That's where all the magic is going to happen. The cards are not virtual, there needs to be a physical counterpart (so a real-life card), but the cards don't have to be contactless (for customers who don't yet have contactless cards). That's the big "win".

BUT: The launch will be for Android ONLY and not for Apple. The presenter even stated: "... dieser Start hat einen kleinen Haken...". That's when I knew: Apple Pay is a no-go.

After the event I grabbed hold of him and dug a little deeper. Fact is, the Sparkasse (this is how he put it) wants access to the NFC chip and Apple won't give it to them (obviously, see Australia and the banks there). He did say that they would love to launch on iOS, but not in the current state. He also put a lot of emphasis on the fact, that the Sparkasse is not willing to pay Apple a bunch of money for the service. His argument: The Android market share is 80%, Apple about 15% in Germany. So to be honest he didn't really seem all too bothered about Apple not working. With Android they retain full control and all the money from the card payments.

So that's that. No Apple Pay in Germany (at least with the Sparkasse and not this year - as it seems). If there is a launch, it will be a lot smaller than we were all hoping for. I can't imagine the Volksbanken joining Apple Pay, so it's up to the big private banks to give it a shot.

EDIT: BTW this was a (half) public event and no NDA :D
 
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arkitect

macrumors 604
Sep 5, 2005
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Bath, United Kingdom
Hallo!

Hope no one minds me jumping into this thread with my question.

We're travelling to Germany in a few weeks' time — and I'm wondering if my iPhone ApplePay (linked to UK cards) would work?
How prevalent is contactless in supermarkets etc?

More out of interest than anything.

If it doesn't work I have no problem with cash — just that I have gotten so used to leaving the house carrying only my keys and iPhone.

Vielen Dank! :)
 

Tobsen

macrumors regular
Apr 29, 2002
138
74
Germany
Hallo!

Hope no one minds me jumping into this thread with my question.

We're travelling to Germany in a few weeks' time — and I'm wondering if my iPhone ApplePay (linked to UK cards) would work?
How prevalent is contactless in supermarkets etc?

More out of interest than anything.

If it doesn't work I have no problem with cash — just that I have gotten so used to leaving the house carrying only my keys and iPhone.

Vielen Dank! :)

It's working on almost all terminals that support NFC :)

This side is collecting all working terminals: https://www.apfel.cash/akzeptanzstellen/
 
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4254126

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Jun 20, 2017
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We're travelling to Germany in a few weeks' time — and I'm wondering if my iPhone ApplePay (linked to UK cards) would work?
How prevalent is contactless in supermarkets etc?
No problem at all, this is the right place to ask ;)

I have an account with HSBC and Nationwide, both Visa debit cards (physical and in Apple Pay) work in most shops that accept card payment. Contactless is more the norm now than it used to be. You'll find that bakeries, restaurants (especially credit card / Apple Pay), ticket machines etc. will be more difficult to deal with. In supermarkets you won't have a problem though. Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Real (to name a few) all support credit cards and contactless.

On a side note: Don't forget to let your bank know you're going abroad (and tell them which country and when). Nationwide and HSBC both have sections in the online banking for you to fill out. Make sure you do that, otherwise you risk your payments being declined for safety reasons. Happy travelling!
 
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SenileBooster

macrumors regular
Jan 31, 2018
128
118
Deutschland
Fact is, the Sparkasse (this is how he put it) wants access to the NFC chip and Apple won't give it to them (obviously, see Australia and the banks there)

See...exactly what I was suspecting in my last post. I did some extended chatting over at Twitter with some people well connected within the industry and it became obvious to me that they are so overpowered by themselves and their market power with the Girocard that they think they can pull such a stunt. It is the hybris of the Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft and especially Sparkassen and their feeling of
invincibility towards GAFA.
 

Alanin

macrumors 6502
Feb 2, 2018
411
258
Nordhausen
When Sparkasse is not going to support AP then I think Volksbank is neither. But then I don’t understand Apple not going with some fancy fin tech or direct bank and releasing it.

I think Apple Pay is going to be released this year and Sparkasse is supporting it. At least this is what a good friend of mine got told by the digital payment responsible at local Sparkasse. While my friend is part of the higher ranked staff. And tbh this sounds more realistic to me than not supporting it at all.

When they are not supporting it then all the talks about damn old Sparkasse is going to be true...
[doublepost=1524682374][/doublepost]But at least. I don’t care if Sparkasse is going to support it. I am with ing diba and when ap starts here, they will support it (I think).
 
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4254126

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Jun 20, 2017
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What event was that exactly? Can‘t remember....
It was focused on merchants / shops / businesses. They really pushed for using the Sparkasse as their payment provider. Also - of course - Girocard was central to everything and portrayed as this amazing new innovation. I couldn't help but laugh every time I heard the sentence "but don't worry, we're not getting rid of cash".

The presentation was by S-Payment, they are the guys working on this stuff. This wasn't by some work experience person on a lunch break.
 
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arkitect

macrumors 604
Sep 5, 2005
7,370
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Bath, United Kingdom
No problem at all, this is the right place to ask ;)

I have an account with HSBC and Nationwide, both Visa debit cards (physical and in Apple Pay) work in most shops that accept card payment. Contactless is more the norm now than it used to be. You'll find that bakeries, restaurants (especially credit card / Apple Pay), ticket machines etc. will be more difficult to deal with. In supermarkets you won't have a problem though. Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Real (to name a few) all support credit cards and contactless.

On a side note: Don't forget to let your bank know you're going abroad (and tell them which country and when). Nationwide and HSBC both have sections in the online banking for you to fill out. Make sure you do that, otherwise you risk your payments being declined for safety reasons. Happy travelling!
Brilliant.
Thank you very much for all the info.

Definitely will let my banks know Im travelling… though sometimes they don't seem to listen and you have to call them again! Usually after an embarrassing "card declined". grrrr.
Thanks again for all the help.
 
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Alanin

macrumors 6502
Feb 2, 2018
411
258
Nordhausen
I think the answer you got was the only one he could give you without breaking the NDA.

Saying nothing would be interpreted as going to launch and just not telling ppl. So breaking nda.

Saying that they are going part of would break the nda.

Giving a launch date would break the nda.

I would think the launch will be synced to the android launch. So I think we do have a date for ap. but Apple wants to pull the trigger and spread the word. Cause Apple is not just talking bout a start in Germany, when they do they will release it in a bunch of countries in Europe.
 

renssies

macrumors newbie
Apr 6, 2018
29
16
Partly related, just for fun I looked up some stats for the Netherlands. The numbers are not accurate because some come from older news posts, but here you go:
~56% of all transactions in March 2018 were card/mobile payment transactions (March 2018)
48% of all card/mobile transactions in March 2018 were NFC transactions, I couldn't find which part is mobile payment
~66-75% of all terminals supported NFC in March 2017 (This was ~40% in March 2016)
62% of all cards distributed in March 2016 had NFC

iOS/iPhone has a market share of 34% (~20,3% is an Apple Pay capable model)
According to a research by Nu.nl, 50% of people want to pay using their smartphone

Edit: In terms of popularity small stores (like near a station) and in bars are the most popular
 
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4254126

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Original poster
Jun 20, 2017
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I think the answer you got was the only one he could give you without breaking the NDA.
Trust me when I say: It's not gonna happen.

Not breaking an NDA is saying: We don't have any information on that. Or: That's fully dependent on Apple (as the Social Media teams keep writing). But this was clear: It's not happening, the Sparkasse isn't prepared to play along on Apple's terms and adding to that Cupertino won't hand over access to the NFC chip. So: No interest.
 

Stefan.

macrumors member
Apr 7, 2006
32
14
~56% of all transactions in March 2018 were card/mobile payment transactions (March 2018)
48% of all card/mobile transactions in March 2018 were NFC transactions, I couldn't find which part is mobile payment
~66-75% of all terminals supported NFC in March 2017 (This was ~40% in March 2016)
62% of all cards distributed in March 2016 had NFC
iOS/iPhone has a market share of 34% (~20,3% is an Apple Pay capable model)

Great numbers (compared to Germany). So why wasn't bunq allowed to launch Apple Pay in the Netherlands?
 

renssies

macrumors newbie
Apr 6, 2018
29
16
Great numbers (compared to Germany). So why wasn't bunq allowed to launch Apple Pay in the Netherlands?
Well, Apple wants to do the launch themselves I guess.

ING, the biggest bank has also said they are ready to accept Apple Pay. The iOS dev has even been given implementation instructions. However, it still hasn't been implemented (the Apple Pay entitlement is not there) or launched.
 

jo0815

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2018
38
21
Salzburg, Austria
My opinion: No matter, which bank apple chooses for Germany (aut, nl,...). It would be quite a strong signal to the other banks. And: Yes, Germany is "a cash country" and the majority is using android. But: Apple is strong with business-people and "Gutverdienern". This is rather an interesting market.

I´m not that pessimistic for the next month.
 
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