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Apple expands payment services in Latin America and prepares India launch
Apple is expanding its payment ecosystem through two major regional developments. In Latin America, the company has enabled ‘Tap to Pay on iPhone’ across eight countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Peru. This feature allows merchants to accept contactless payments using only an iPhone and a compatible app, eliminating the need for external hardware.
Simultaneously, Apple is reportedly preparing to launch Apple Pay in India, potentially as early as October 2026. Reports suggest the initial rollout may focus on card-based contactless payments via Visa and Mastercard, rather than immediate integration with the dominant Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Axis Bank is expected to serve as the initial banking partner, while Apple continues discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank regarding commercial terms. This move comes as Apple’s smartphone market share in India has grown to 8% since 2022.
Entities
Apple · Axis Bank · HDFC Bank · ICICI Bank · India
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Apple's smartphone market share in India has doubled to 8% since 2022. orissasambad.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple is in discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank regarding commercial terms. navbharatlive.com · macdailynews.com · thefederal.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Axis Bank is expected to be the initial banking partner for the service. navbharatlive.com · macdailynews.com · thefederal.com · www.compsmag.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Apple Pay is expected to launch in India in October 2026. navbharatlive.com · orissasambad.com · macdailynews.com · thefederal.com · www.compsmag.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The initial rollout is expected to focus on card-based contactless payments via Visa and Mastercard. macdailynews.com