Updated
Updated · Business Standard · Aug 9
Apple Pay to Launch in India by October Without UPI, Targeting Premium Card Users
Updated
Updated · Business Standard · Aug 9

Apple Pay to Launch in India by October Without UPI, Targeting Premium Card Users

3 articles · Updated · Business Standard · Aug 9

Summary

  • Apple Pay is set to debut in India by October, giving the iPhone maker an entry into the country’s premium credit-card payments market, people familiar with the plan said.
  • Visa and Mastercard credit cards will be supported at launch, while UPI will be excluded initially as Apple negotiates transaction fees with banks.
  • That structure would let Apple earn a fee on each transaction, unlike India’s dominant UPI system, which has reshaped the country’s digital-payments landscape.
  • Apple has been in talks with major Indian banks since February, while any future UPI integration would still require NPCI clearance and a sponsor bank.

Insights

Why is Apple launching its payment service in India without the country's most popular transaction method?
Can Apple's premium payment strategy survive in a market where digital transactions are expected to be completely free?