Apple Pay: Time to Say Goodbye to Plastic Cards?

By now, you’ve probably heard about Apple Pay, the new payment service from Apple coming to an iPhone 6 (or Apple Watch) near you this October. Like most of us, you’re probably wondering what it is and how it works. And so to get you up to speed, here we bring you, Apple Pay 101.

What is it?

A mobile payment and digital wallet service that lets users make payments with their iPhone or Apple Watch at retail locations and online. It replaces having to swipe magnetic stripes at credit card terminals.

How does it work?

Apple Pay lets Apple devices wirelessly communicate with point-of-sale systems. Just select your card in Passbook and point your device at the payment point, using your fingerprint to authenticate the transaction. Simple as that. You get started by entering your account info manually or taking a photo of your credit card with your phone. The data is stored in Passbook.

Is it secure?

They’re saying it’s safer than those old-fashioned plastic cards you’re carrying around. That’s because it keeps your information completely private. Nobody ever has to see — or keep — your name, account number, or security code. And if you ever lose your phone, you can immediately suspend all your information through your iCloud account or the Find My iPhone app.

Time will tell how many people adopt this new technology. But given its high degree of simplicity, convenience, and security, it looks like Apply Pay may be here to stay.