Alipay has expanded its payment services with the introduction of Alipay Tap!, a new tap-and-pay feature, in Guangzhou of China’s Guangdong province.
Tens of thousands of stores and restaurants throughout Guangzhou are claimed to have adopted Alipay Tap!, according to a report of China Daily.
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Alipay Tap! product manager Gao Zheng was quoted by the publication as saying: “Many young people appreciate our new payment solution, while those who are senior or visually impaired can now make payments without finding a payment code, which has significantly reduced the barrier to using mobile payments.”
“We will continue to focus on key cities like Guangzhou, optimizing product experiences, expanding scene openness through partnerships and conducting diverse operational activities to boost local consumption vitality. Foreign visitors in China can also use the service.”
The service is a part of Ant Group’s payment arm and was first introduced in July this year.
Approximately 100,000 restaurants across the country, including select McDonald’s outlets, have applied to begin using this payment method.
This service enables users to make payments by simply tapping their unlocked smartphones against a cash register, and is claimed to provide an efficient checkout process for both consumers and merchants.
The Tap! function is compatible with Android devices and Apple’s iPhones.
It operates through a USB add-on at the merchant’s cash register, facilitating a quick and hassle-free payment experience.
Alipay has stated that its Tap! feature distinguishes itself from other NFC payment methods that operate through card emulation mode.
The tap-and-pay service offered by Alipay changes a smartphone into an NFC tag reader by substituting several steps in the conventional QR code scanning method with a straightforward tap.
