Apple Pay is now live in the UK, and MasterCard has announced that it will offer its cardholders immediate access to the new service helping them to use their cards where and how they want with a seamless experience.Users of Apple’s iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch can make safe, secure and convenient payments at over 250,000 shops in the UK that accept contactless payments; and payments within apps using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you add a credit or debit card to Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device. Each transaction is authorised with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

The MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) is key to enabling MasterCard credit or debit cardholders to use Apple Pay. It is a secure payment system that has been built with ‘EMV cryptography’ – ensuring that transactions can take full advantage of the most advanced payment security in the world.

In order to further protect consumers, Apple Pay incorporates additional security features such as Touch ID to authorise every contactless payment. For consumers and retailers alike, it means that every Apple Pay purchase made with a MasterCard will offer the security, benefits and guarantees of any MasterCard transaction.

When you add your MasterCard to Apple Pay it works exactly like a real card so users will still enjoy all of your normal benefits such as points, cashback and insurance protection when you spend using Apple Pay.

Cardholders can locate shops which accept Apple Pay through MasterCard Nearby, a location-based app that identifies retailers that accept contactless payments.

New figures from MasterCard indicate that the UK is ready to embrace mobile payment technology¹: A quarter of British consumers said that they intend to make a contactless payment with their mobile in the next year. Furthermore, one-third of potential users intend to link their credit card to their smartphone for contactless payments, for the added consumer protection it offers.

“Innovation in UK payments means it’s fast becoming the most advanced market in the world and the arrival of Apple Pay heralds this new era. We will see more change in the next five years than we’ve seen in the last 50, bringing even more convenience and security for consumers,” said Mark Barnett, President of MasterCard UK & Ireland.

“Regardless of the device they use, our aim is to give consumers a safe and seamless payment experience that offers all the benefits and guarantees of any MasterCard transaction. Our work with Apple embodies the digital transformation of our company and solidifies our commitment to more secure, digital payments.”

In shops, consumers can pay contactlessly simply by holding their iPhone over a contactless terminal and authenticating with Touch ID. For purchases within an app, consumers simply authenticate with their fingerprint or passcode for a seamless experience without having to enter their card number or leave the app.

MasterCard is working with multiple banks, including: HSBC; MBNA; RBS/Natwest and Santander, to enable their customers to use their MasterCard credit or debit cards directly through Apple Pay. The company has already helped almost 100 banks in the US and UK to enable their cards for Apple Pay.

MasterCard Payment Gateway Services is one of the first UK payment gateways approved to accept Apple Pay transactions for both In-App and Point of Sale Purchase. This enables UK retailers and service providers to seamlessly add this exciting new payment method both in store and online, promoting maximum convenience and flexibility for their customers.

For more information on Apple Pay, visit:  http://news.mstr.cd/1eVJ0Xd  http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/