The rise and rise of Apple into the financial services space continues unabated with news that the tech giant has now launched its mobile payments service in Taiwan.
According to local publication «The China Post», customers of Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank, Cathay United Bank, E. Sun Commercial Bank, Taishin International Bank, CTBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Union Bank of Taiwan can provision their Mastercard and Visa cards for use with Apple Pay.
Apple users with an iPhone 6 or any newer iPhone model in Taiwan will now able to scan their cards from any of these banks and pay at select stores that have a contactless point-of-sale terminal
Asian Proliferation
The arrival of Apple Pay in Taiwan continues Apple's measured international rollout. First introduced to U.S. customers in 2014.
In Asia Pacific Apple Pay has since expanded to China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.
One market however that remains a tough nut to crack is Australia, where the Silicon Valley firm has accused banks there of exhibiting cartel-like behaviour.
Australian Banks Say No
A spat broke out between Apple and some of Australia's largest banks last year and has grown increasingly inflamed.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, National Australia Bank, and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank accuse Apple of acting against the interests of customers in an escalating row over collective bargaining rights for Near Field Communication (NFC) access to iPhones.
Apple fired back accusing the banks banks of pushing the costs of Apple Pay on to their customers, delaying the expansion of the service to 70 percent of Australian card holders.
ANZ however broke ranks with its fellow group and rolled out Apple Pay to more than 500,000 customers with a Mastercard credit card, following an earlier release to its five million debit card holders in April 2016.
