PayPal has introduced support for the contactless payment feature “tap-to-pay” for iPhone users in Germany. This development became possible after European legislators required Apple to open access to NFC technology for third-party payment providers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). As a result, PayPal users with iPhones and MasterCard bank cards can now make contactless payments directly from their devices.
At this stage, the new feature is limited to iPhones only. Contactless payments via Apple Watch are not supported yet. While this rollout marks an important step for PayPal, the broader Apple ecosystem still has limitations in place when it comes to wearables. We’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.
Policy Shifts and Expanding NFC Access
The first payment platform to take advantage of Apple’s revised NFC policy was the Norwegian service Vipps. It implemented support for tap-to-pay back in December of last year. This came roughly one year after Apple initially announced its plans to grant third-party developers access to the iPhone’s NFC capabilities.
Interestingly, Apple did not restrict this change to the EU, notes NIX Solutions. In August of last year, the company confirmed that similar access would be granted to developers in the United States and select other regions. This signals a wider shift in Apple’s approach, driven both by regulatory changes and increasing demand for openness in mobile payment systems.
Alongside opening access to third-party apps, Apple has also enabled businesses to utilize the iPhone’s built-in NFC chips to accept payments through their own platforms. This expands opportunities for companies looking to offer contactless payments without relying solely on Apple Pay.
Overall, the introduction of tap-to-pay support for PayPal on iPhones highlights the gradual yet significant evolution of mobile payment infrastructure. While limited in scope for now, these changes could pave the way for broader functionality and competition in the space. As Apple continues to adjust its policies, more payment providers may follow suit in launching NFC-powered solutions across various devices. We’ll keep you updated as the situation develops.