Apple to Partner With Sony to Bring Apple Pay to Japan

Apple is partnering with Sony to bring Apple Pay to Japan, reports Nikkei. The company will use Sony's contactless FeliCa technology to piggyback onto the infrastructure already present in the country.

The U.S. smartphone giant will team with FeliCa Networks to make the iPhone compatible with the technology, likely by adding a feature letting it communicate with FeliCa readers. iPhone users, who account for half of the Japanese smartphone market, will be able to use Apple Pay for contactless payment at convenience stores or vending machines with FeliCa-compatible terminals.

It's likely that this new service will not be launched in Japan until next year. Apple has to negotiate fees with financial institutions and work with retailers to prepare for a gradual rollout.


Notably, users in Japan will be able to store their train tickets on the iPhone, letting them enter gates with a wave.

Apple Pay is currently available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, and USA .

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