Apple Readies India Launch for Apple Pay
Apple is preparing to launch its Apple Pay service in India next month, partnering with Axis Bank for its credit cards. This would make Apple available in one of the few major economies where it isn't currently supported.
Mumbai-based Axis Bank is the fourth-largest credit card issuer in India and has been chosen as a single major banking partner to start with, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Apple Pay will allow iPhone users to make tap-and-pay purchases using tokenized card details stored in their devices, without opening a separate payments app. The company plans to add lenders over time through direct deals, mirroring phased rollouts in other markets.
The Reserve Bank of India allowed biometric authentication for card payments last year, enabling Apple's payment service to work with Indian bank cards using Face ID and Touch ID.