Earlier this week American Express posted on their Facebook page Apple Pay in Canada was “coming soon”, and now the company’s website is teasing “stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks”, as you can see below, hinting the mobile wallet may launch in late November or early December.
As for which American Express cards are eligible for Apple Pay? The company notes any card issued by Amex Bank of Canada will work (sounds like those with a Scotiabank Amex are out of luck):
An eligible Card is an active American Express Consumer, Small Business or Corporate Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada. Prepaid Cards and products (such as the American Express Gift Card) are not eligible.
It appears the Apple Pay link with American Express has caused a spike in interest for the credit card company, as the latter’s iPhone app downloads have surged to the top charts within the App Store.
Support for Apple Pay was launched in the U.S. last fall with the arrival of iOS 8.1. Earlier this week, the second beta of iOS 9.2 was released for developers, so the GM seed of iOS 9.2, may bring support for Apple Pay here.
Apple Pay will work on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus or newer, or an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone 5 or newer. Those with and iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 or newer will be able to use Apple Pay for in-app payments.
Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this month announced Apple Pay expansion into Canada with American Express would arrive before the end of 2015. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported Apple Pay would launch in Canada possibly sometime in November, a timeline echoed by our own sources.
As for Canadian banks supporting Apple Pay, TD Canada Trust previously leaked support was “coming soon”, while we’re hearing BMO and RBC may be involved as well.
Apple Pay is coming folks—get ready!
Thanks Ed C.!
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Found this on Twitter under Amex Canada.
http://amex.co/1MN9fPh
Reached out to Amex since I am a long time cardholder to see if they might leak some additional info. All they said was that launch date not yet confirmed which leads me to suspect (I could be wrong) that launch might be tied to release of iOS 9.2.
Should not be tied to any release as Apple Pay already works – I can’t imagine Apple releasing an update of iOS anytime a new bank becomes a partner. But nice of you to have contacted AmEx!
Sounds logical to me. Just trying to figure out the delay in launch. You would think that when the announcement was made by Tim Cook they were already prepared to launch and it was just a matter of contacting the merchants that accept Amex so that they would be ready. From what I have read, most terminals in Canada are already NFC ready.