Apple Pay launched in India after 12 years; here's how users can make payments..

After a long wait, Apple Pay has finally been launched in India. Following months of reports and speculation, Apple launched its 'Tap-to-Pay' service in the country on Wednesday. Notably, Apple Pay was first introduced in the US in September 2014, meaning it has arrived in India after nearly 12 years.

In India, Apple has launched Apple Pay in partnership with Axis Bank. Currently, users can only add Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank to Apple Pay. The company states that special emphasis has been placed on the security of users' payment and financial information.

**Payments via iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch**
Apple Pay is currently available on select Apple devices. Users can make payments using their iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The company has announced that support for Apple Pay will also be extended to Mac devices in the future.

With Apple Pay, users can make payments at stores without taking out their physical cards. It can also be used for payments to online merchants and for in-app purchases. To make payments at physical stores, the shop's PoS (Point of Sale) machine must support NFC (Near Field Communication) or 'Tap-to-Pay' functionality. Users can simply tap their Apple device on such machines to complete the payment.

**No need to enter a PIN or OTP every time**
The payment process with Apple Pay is very simple. Payment is completed by tapping an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other supported Apple device on an NFC-enabled PoS machine. According to the company, there is no need to enter a separate PIN or OTP at checkout.

However, payment security is linked to Apple's device security system. This means that simply bringing the phone near a PoS machine does not allow anyone to access your card details.

**Card numbers are not saved in Apple Pay**
According to Apple, when using Apple Pay, your actual card number is neither stored on the device nor kept on Apple's servers. During payment, the card number is not shared with the merchant.

Instead, Apple generates a Device Account Number (DAN). This is a unique number that is encrypted and stored within a secure chip on the device known as the 'Secure Element.' Simply put, Apple Pay enables payments without revealing your actual card number.

Apple does not store your transaction details.
Apple states that it does not store information regarding transactions made via Apple Pay. Payment-related data remains between the user, the merchant, and the bank or card issuer.

According to Apple, with its launch in India, Apple Pay is now available in over 90 countries and regions worldwide. It is partnered with more than 11,000 banks and payment networks globally.

How do you add a card to Apple Pay?
If you hold an Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card, adding it to Apple Pay is easy. You can add the card directly to Apple Wallet using the latest version of the Axis Bank app.

Alternatively, you can open the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the '+' button. Then, simply follow the on-screen instructions to add your Axis Bank credit card. Once the card is added, you can make payments by tapping your Apple device at locations equipped with NFC-enabled PoS machines. Currently, Apple Pay has launched in India supporting Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. In the future, Apple may add more devices, cards, and banks to this service.

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