Apple Pay is a hit
with over a million activations in 72 hours: Tim Cook
Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple’s new mobile payment system Apple
Pay had over 1 million activations in the first three days after it became
available, and is now more widely used than any competing payment system.
“We’re already No. 1. We’re more than the total of the other
guys,” Mr. Cook boasted during a tech industry conference, “and we’ve only been
at it a week.” He said Visa and MasterCard officials have told Apple that the
Apple Pay system is already seeing more use than similar “contactless” methods
of paying for purchases.
While Apple has partnered with major banks and large retail
chains, critics have noted that it’s not accepted by a number of other large
chains.
Mr. Cook also said he plans to talk with Jack Ma, executive
chairman of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, later this week about a
possible partnership.
Today’s televisions haven’t advanced much technologically in the
last 30 years, Mr. Cook said. “So I think there’s a lot to be done here.”
Mr. Cook didn’t offer specifics, but he said, “It’s an area
where I’m optimistic that there is something great that can be done in the
space.”
Takes a dig at
competitors
Apple has touted the privacy and security features of its
service, which uses a sophisticated encryption system to let users charge
purchases on credit card accounts without having to show their card or account
number.
Repeating a favourite dig at competitors such as Google and
Facebook, Mr. Cook said Apple doesn’t collect user data or purchase
information. “We don’t want to know what you buy. We’re not Big Brother; we’ll
leave that to other people.”
Associated Press
