Apple Pay now rolling out to Axis Bank customers in India [U]

Apple has officially launched its Apple Pay service in India, marking a significant expansion for the digital payment platform in one of the world's largest mobile markets. According to a statement released by the company, the service is currently available to customers holding Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

The rollout allows eligible users to integrate their Axis Bank credit cards into the Apple Wallet app, enabling contactless payments at retail terminals and secure transactions within participating apps and websites. This move follows years of speculation regarding Apple's payment strategy in India, a market that has seen rapid adoption of digital payment infrastructure through local systems like UPI.

Industry analysts note that while Apple Pay enters a competitive landscape dominated by established local players, its integration with major banking partners like Axis Bank provides a streamlined experience for the growing base of iPhone users in the region. The launch is expected to be phased, with potential for additional banking partners to be added in the coming months.

For users, the setup process involves adding card details to the Wallet app, which then utilizes tokenization to ensure transaction security. Apple has emphasized that the service maintains its standard privacy protocols, where card numbers are not stored on the device or Apple servers, but rather a unique Device Account Number is assigned and encrypted.