Apple’s QR Code Payment Integration in Apple Pay Could Have Huge Implications in India

Last week, Apple released the second Developer Beta of iOS 14 with some minor changes. 9to5Mac, known for reliable Apple-related leaks, has reported that Apple is working to integrate QR Code payments in Apple Pay. And this might end up in Pay, finally, making its way to India, and a major push for UPI altogether.

As per 9to5Mac, “References found in the iOS 14 code reveal that Apple is working on a new method for letting users make payments with Apple Pay by scanning a QR Code or traditional barcode with the iPhone camera.“

Although the feature isn’t working right now, we can see what the implementation would look like. Moreover, as per the code, users will be able to generate a QR Code to accept the payments, just like we’re used to with the UPI apps.

The code was found in the ‘Public System API’ which gives a shred of strong evidence that Apple might open this API to third-party apps, to integrate their services into  Pay.

How Does Apple Pay Work?

Currently, Apple Pay is available in select countries (like USA, UAE, Australia), that too, only on a handful of banks. How it works is, first, you add your debit/credit card to the Wallet app on your iPhone. Then when you have to pay at a POS terminal, you double press the screen lock button, select your card, bring your phone closer to the POS terminal and authenticate the transaction via FaceID or TouchID. Quite simple, right.

But all if this requires NFC in the POS terminal, which itself is a rare thing to spot in India.

Why UPI?

Indians are using UPI far more than any other digital mode of payment. In February this year, UPI transactions took over debit and credit card transactions.

Since India is far from having NFC Terminals in every other Kirana stores, and with the increasing number of iPhone users in India, Apple might implement Pay in a different way.

If Apple takes the UPI route, it will encourage the users to pay via UPI since the transaction is pretty seamless. Moreover, it will push other manufacturers to integrate such kind of payment system into their smartphones. The end result — more users of UPI in India.