Apple Pay lands in Israel

I miss a lot of things about the four years I spent living in Beijing – my Chinese friends, the food, the language, and wandering around with a digital wallet. For years, people in China have been paying with their smartphones and there has been no need to come up with a credit card. I have returned to Israel for 18 months with my iPhone, Apple Pay finally arrived yesterday and I can go out without my credit card. I went out to try it. The start was disappointing. Time and again I tried to connect my CAL credit card to the Apple Pay digital wallet app but just got an answer that the operator doesn’t support the service. I tried updating versions, turning the iPhone on and off, and even throwing it in the air, to no avail. Looking at social media, I discovered I’m not the only one with problems, although MAX credit card holders were fine. Calling CAL customer service over the phone didn’t help and I was told I would have to wait several hours for help. A call to the CAL spokesperson resolved the issue. It seems that I first need to download an app from CAL and then contact Apple Pay. So I set off on the streets of Givatayim without my credit card, and headed to the supermarket assuming everything would be fine. I took a bottle of Coke Zero from the fridge at the supermarket and cautiously approached the cashier and touched my iPhone screen. The iPhone politely explained to me that I hadn’t done it properly. It turns out that with the iPhone 12, you have to double-press a button on the side to open the app. Then the app opens after facial recognition, it’s not that easy when you wear your mask in the store, so instead you need to enter your code. Only then do you touch your phone to the screen. After tense three seconds I got nod. I paid 8 shekels and am free to go. My first Apple Pay transaction has been successfully completed. I was thrilled with my unexpected achievement, and I am heading to many other stores. As of March 2021, 60% of the payment terminals in Israeli companies were smart terminals, capable of allowing payment via a digital wallet such as Apple Pay. A short tour of the neighborhood stores found that number accurate. My local SuperPharm store has a smart terminal, but for some reason the cashier insists that I sign the transaction despite no need and this slows me down somewhat. However, it only took me a few seconds while I was out. RELATED ARTICLES Apple Pay launches in Israel next week, Apple Pay will come to Israel – and it’s not alone that accept my Apple Pay neighborhood bakery, and for 10 shekels I’m away with burekas. I managed to buy a basket of grapes for 25 shekels, but the hardware and canned food store, where they sell premium pickles, is skeptical about my Apple Pay. Why didn’t you just bring your credit card? The seller asked me angrily. But I can’t buy one of Ovid’s legendary sandwiches (fried eggplant, boiled eggs topped with tahini, amba, and parsley), which would have made my day – the best spice on the planet. The cashier says they only take cash. While in China, you need to scan the QR code in the store to use local apps like Ali Pay, Apple Pay is faster and more convenient. Since Apple controls both software and hardware, it makes things a lot easier. Double pressing a button, face recognition (or an icon if you are wearing a mask) and touch the phone on the screen. Apple does not keep any record of the transaction so it leaves no trace of the transaction on your phone after payment. The fact that it is difficult to know if the store is able to allow you to pay with Apple Pay in advance means that you still have to keep a real wallet with you, or at least a credit card. According to the instructions of the Bank of Israel, all companies in Israel (except gas stations) must be equipped to accept digital wallets and have EMV terminals by July 2021. Good luck convincing Oved to accept his digital wallets. One of the issues with Apple Pay, compared to competing digital wallets like Bank Hapoalim’s Bit app or the proprietary CAL app, is that using the iPhone makes me a captive customer. Apple does not allow third-party apps to connect to its NFC chip, which enables fast payments by touching the phone on the screen, which means I can only use Apple Pay. It is not a bad choice but it takes away my ability to choose. Posted by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – May 6, 2021 © Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2021