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Apple Card

The US Citizens Can Now Finally Use the Apple Card

Apple finally launched its most anticipated Apple card on Tuesday. For now, it will only be available for the users in the U.S. The users can apply for the card directly from their Apple Wallet app on their iPhone. They do not have to wait for the physical card to arrive as they can use it virtually through the Apple Pay as soon they request for the card.

The new card is the digital-first card that the iPhone users will get, and it will even make the credits private for the users. According to Apple, no system will keep the record of from where and when a user has shopped and what amount did he pay, like, in the cash system, it will keep the credits anonymous. So the users don’t have to worry about their data being sold by the company. But the users can see their spendings and balance in the card through the Apple Card app. They can also keep the record of the cash backs they got and see where they spent their money in Apple Maps.

Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard to design and process the card. There is no annual fee, cash advances fees, over the limit fees or late fees, that the user needs to pay to use the card. And moreover, according to the claims made by the company, it has got even lesser interest on the purchases. In fact, the company will be providing incentives and cash rewards to users for using the new card. The card is acceptable at every merchant accepting Mastercard.

Apple Card
Image Source: interestingengineering.com

The new card also renders some interesting features, like it changes colour for different types of spendings. For example, if a user is using the card for a restaurant bill, the card will turn orange. And if the spending is on entertainment, the card colour will be a mix of orange and pink. Apple has already started 3% cashback on purchase through the virtual card at selected merchants, including Uber and Uber Eats. With the physical card, the cashback will be 1%.

The new app to use the card is available for the users, who own an Apple 6 or a newer model running iOS 12.4. To use the app, you need to go to the Apple Wallet and tap on the (+) icon on the upper right corner on the screen. Then, a Continue button will appear along with a small description of the Apple Card. Upon tapping on the Continue button, a list of Card Type will appear, where you need to select Apple Card. Then you must verify and confirm your details by filling in the information and accept the Apple Card terms and conditions on the next screen.

After that, Apple will send you a description of the credit limit and interest rates based on your information, where you need to tap on Accept Apple Card. This way, the card will be ready for use.

Paytm Partners with Soft Bank to Enter Japan with the QR-based Payment App PayPay

It has been almost eight years since Paytm has been around helping people with their digital payments. It became the most used digital payment app in India, way before the PM Modi’s Digital India campaign even started. After gaining huge success in India, Paytm is all set to approach other countries with its amazing digital payment technology. Last year, during the launch of Paytm in Canada, the founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, had indicated that the company is also planning to expand in Japan and Europe.

paytm
Image Source: paytm.com

Collaborating with the SoftBank and Yahoo Japan Corporation, Paytm has developed a similar app named as PayPay, that, it has launched for the people of Japan. The PayPay app is based on the QR technology, that users can use on their smartphones for their payment settlements. The users can easily transfer their money from the bank accounts to the PayPay app wallet and use the wallet for the payments.

“Paytm is the leader in smart electronic payment services in India, and has achieved great success. It is a great strength to introduce Paytm’s high technology and solution, to PayPay, and I am confident that it will greatly contribute to the expansion of users in Japan,” said Ichiro Nakayama, the President & Representative Director CEO of PayPay Corporation.

Paytm has used the same strategy for its new client base in Japan as it has used in India at its initial stage. Paytm, through the PayPay app, will provide its users with various offers, including the ones with cash back. The user will also receive 500 yen, after the successful completion of their registration with the app, through a valid Japanese mobile number. Also, PayPay is providing the users with free of cost transactions till September 2021.

Paytm already have 300 million customers and over 9.5 million offline merchants registered with the app, in India. After the launch of PayPay, the Soft Bank and the Yahoo Japan are intended to draw their client base to register with PayPay, and Yahoo Japan will also shut down its Yahoo Wallet, to integrate PayPay on Yahoo! Japan.