iPhone wont share slice of the Apple Pay pie

iPhone wont share slice of the Apple Pay pie

UK mobile operators EE (Everything Everywhere), O2 and Vodafone-owned Weve decided to scrap its mobile wallet plans, in the wake of Apple announcing its NFC chip is to be exclusive to Apple Pay. Weve said it came to its decision to dis-band, citing disagreement in operational methods but no doubt Apple's announcement clinched the deal, or non-deal, as it were, writes Anna Milne

Anna Milne September 16, 2014

Apple has taken the fizz out of the mobile payments industry-wide celebrations by locking out all third party apps from the new iPhone’s NFC chip. In doing this Apple has doubled down on its bet that consumers want mobile payments to be simple, secure and free of choice. It is also quite typical of the richest company in the world. In doing this, Apple reinforces its confidence in its product, conveying a message of not wanting to allow any other apps into its walled. Going it alone like this screams arrogance and strengthens division in the market – not necessarily a healthy business model.

Google Android looks set to be the focus now of mobile operators, despite its own so-called wave and pay wallet service having stalled and indeed Weve has said that individual apps from the telecos will replace the joint project.