Windows phone owners can officially tap to pay as Microsoft releases an upgrade to its Windows 10 Mobile wallet app.
In a post on Microsoft’s Windows blog, the company stated the decision was initially derived from customer requests which eventually eventually formed partnerships with Visa and MasterCard. Furthermore, they’ve also partnered with several large banks.
Tap to pay is a cloud-based payment technology that is currently only available in the United States for the Lumia 950, Lumio 950 XL and Lumia 650, the new Windows 10 phones.
Furthermore, the Microsoft wallet provides a place to store rewards and membership numbers so users can simply scan their phones to access them.
Microsoft has long struggled with the Windows phone. The Verge reports from a study that claims Windows Phones make up just 0.7 percent of the overall market. Furthermore, Microsoft drives over 90 percent of those sales through the success oft-the Lumia line.
The Verge goes on to speculate that despite discouraging sales, Microsoft seems to be committed to maintaining and growing the Windows phone. However, with the mobile payments options already offered by Android and Apple, the Redmond-based company has some stiff competition.
The service is currently only available to Windows Insiders in the United States but will become generally available over the summer, though an international release date has not been revealed.
Related reading: PayPal to discontinue native app support for BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone devices on June 30
[source]Microsoft[/source]
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