U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. has just launched its contactless payment system Apple Pay in Ukraine, working here through the national and largest bank, PrivatBank.
PrivatBank on May 17 announced its Privat 24 now supports Apple Pay. The bank has released an update to the app in the App Store with the description that says, “We contacted the right person, and now Apple Pay works on your iPhone.”
The bank has also tweeted a teaser video, in which a man is seen eating an apple.
— PrivatBank (@privatbankua) May 17, 2018
Apple Pay works by the user placing their iPhone, Apple Watch or other compatible device next to a contactless payment terminal. Users can also ask Apple’s electronic assistant, Siri, to send other users money, or send money via text messages.
Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk also confirmed that the service is now active . He said it was important for Ukraine to keep up with global trends.
“New technologies are developing in Ukraine,” Danylyuk wrote in a post on Facebook. “The launch of Apple Pay shows that our local market is appealing to world’s leading innovative companies.”
Apple Pay, which is available on iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches, allows users to enter their credit and debit card details onto a device, and use them to make payments online and in-store.
In order to use it in Ukraine, one needs to update the Privat24 app in the App Store, and then open it through iPad, Apple Watch or iPhone. An alternative is to open the standard Apple app Wallet, through which users can follow instructions to add a credit card.
The phone model can be no older than iPhone 6. The service supports both Visa and Mastercard card payment systems.
PrivatBank has already launched in Ukraine a similar service by Google – Android Pay. Other banks are to follow.
Apple brings the service to countries only once a certain number of iPhones and contactless debit and credit machines are present, as Apple Pay is compatible only with them.
Two weeks ago, on May 1, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the service would soon come to Ukraine. Then, Cook provided neither the precise launch date nor any other details of the digital payment service roll-out.
But rumors about Apple Pay entering Ukraine have been circulating for a year. In August 2017 Apple had registered two trademarks in Ukraine: Premium Reseller and Siri. Siri is the name of the Apple voice assistant built-in to Apple products.
The service’s worldwide transactions have tripled year-over-year in the most recent period, which would indicate significant popularity within the service’s existing markets.
The Kyiv Post’s technology coverage is sponsored by Ciklum and NIX Solutions. The content is independent of the donors.
