MCX retailers threatened with a fine for using Apple Pay - instead awaiting digital wallet rival CurrentC
The Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) group will allegedly impose fines upon member retailers who adopt the Apple Pay mobile near field communication (NFC) app as the group awaits its rival digital wallet, CurrentC.
Apple Pay allows mobile users to swipe their phones to pay for goods
The US consortium of over 50 retailers including Walmart, the world’s biggest supermarket, will fine members for adopting Apple Pay, claimed a number of outlets speaking under anonymity to the New York Times.
The disclosure followed pharmaceutical retailers RiteAid and CVS’s decision to allow, and several days later, drop Apple Pay in their stores as they banned NFC payments.
Typically, CurrentC, the payment app being developed by the consortium in a joint-venture to combat Apple will launch in 2015 allowing consumers to scan QR codes to pay for goods and services.
On Tuesday, Apple chief executive Tim Cook dismissed the lack of of retailer uptake, claiming that the app was ready to go global. During the event Alibaba head, Jack Ma claimed he would happily see a marriage between the two firms on the digital wallet front.
A number of industry experts spoke to The Drum, giving their views on the retailers’ reluctance to adopt Apple Pay. Some said they thought the consortium would regret its decision to shun Apple Pay.
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