After years of anticipation, Apple's mobile payment service, 'Apple Pay', has officially launched in India. This service enables iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users to make contactless payments both in-store and online. Initially, support is limited to Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards; UPI and RuPay cards are not currently supported.

The launch involves partnerships with major platforms such as PayU, Razorpay, Pine Labs, and Paytm. This allows users to utilize Apple Pay across hundreds of thousands of stores and online platforms belonging to prominent brands like Zomato, Blinkit, Croma, and Reliance. Key features include the ability to easily link cards within the Apple Wallet for shopping, while ensuring users continue to receive standard rewards and cashback.

Apple Pay is designed with a focus on security. Actual card numbers are neither stored on the user's device or Apple's servers nor shared with merchants. Instead, each transaction is completed using an encrypted account number stored in the device's secure chip and secure verification via Face ID or Touch ID.