Apple Pay goes live in Russia

Apple Pay Russia
GOING MOBILE: Russia is the latest in a fast-growing list of countries to get Apple Pay

Apple Pay has begun rolling out across Russia, allowing consumers to pay in-store and make in-app and online purchases. The service is currently supported by Mastercard and Sberbank and is accepted at branches of Atak, Auchan, Media Markt, BP, Azbuka Vkusa, Magnit, M.Video, Tsum, Re:Store and “hundreds of thousands of others” with support from Eldorado and Burger King expected “soon”.

“Apple Pay works anywhere contactless payments are accepted, from supermarkets and hotels to your favourite shops, cafes and restaurants,” Apple says. “Apple Pay can also pay for purchases in many popular applications from the app store.

“Apple Pay supports cards with major banks and payment systems. Just add them to your wallet and continue to receive all the benefits and bonuses.”

Reports that Apple Pay was expected to be introduced in Russia arose in September 2016. Apple confirmed at its annual iPhone event the same month that it would be launching its mobile payment service in Japan, adding it was “trying to bring it around the world as quick as we can and the team are launching new countries this fall”.

September also saw Apple Pay bring in payments on the web through the release of its latest iOS 10 operating system. Sberbank announced its plans to launch a host card emulation (HCE) mobile payment service in May 2014.

Samsung Pay also arrived in Russia this week.

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