Hong Kong’s Octopus cards announced on Tuesday an app for Apple devices is to be launched, a week after Apple Pay went live in the city.
To use the system, Hongkongers will need to download an Octopus app, buy an Octopus card
Octopus launches e-wallet app for Apple Pay devices
reader for HK$228 and pair the card reader via Bluetooth with an iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad.
Apple tightly guards its security and proprietary technology used for its digital wallet and mobile payment service, Apple Pay.
That service uses Apple’s TouchID fingerprint recognition technology to make payments, which Octopus does not support.
That is why Octopus needs to include the personal card reader to support its own mobile payment set-up.
China’s similar Alipay and Tencent’s WeChat app support TouchID, making them convenient for iPhone users.
Octopus’ online payment services have been available since 2014 on Android smartphones and have so far recorded about 1 million downloads.
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