With Apple seeding new builds of iOS 8.1 to developers for testing it was only a matter of time before a clever developer managed to poke around long enough to find some more information about about the big change we’re expecting to come as part of the release.
Apple Pay, announced last month at the big iPhone 6 / Apple Watch event, is the next big thing in mobile payments and will allow users of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 handsets, as well as the upcoming Apple Watch to pay for items without having to get their credit or debit cards out. The technology, similar to the contactless hardware that is already prevalent throughout most of the civilized world, is brand new and is just starting to find its way into iOS. The just-released iOS 8.1 beta 2 shows more signs of Apple Pay nearing readiness, after developer Hamza Sood discovered configuration screens for not just the initial setup of an iPhone but also via the Passbook app.
Interestingly, there also appears to be a config option on the iPad, which considering the lack of prerequisites such as the Touch ID sensor as well as the NFC chip that’s required to make everything work. It’s expected that the iPads that are likely to be announced next week will have Touch ID built in, though NFC is unlikely. Apple Pay will allow iPad users to buy things online though, and NFC won’t be needed for such purchases for obvious reasons.
The setup screens themselves offer basic information about what Apple Pay is as well as giving the opportunity for users to add payment details to the service by either entering them manually or taking a photo of their card and letting Apple do the rest.
Apple’s iOS 8.1 is expected later this month, probably coinciding with the announcement of new iPads at a special event next week. Whenever the final build of iOS 8.1 is out in the wild, we will definitely let our readers know about it. Meanwhile do drop your thoughts with us regarding the matter.
Are you all ready for Apple Pay? We surely are!
(Source: Hamza Sood [Twitter])
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