At the moment bitcoins do not seem to be accepted widely by the payment system, though the company recently updated its website to include the virtual currency.However, it was unclear why Apple would want to create an iPhone app which is currently exclusive for iOS devices. That is to say, it could be possible for a company which is looking to launch an iPhone app to work in tandem with a site which is specifically aimed at consumers. However, given that it appears Apple is trying to integrate bitcoin into its network of payments services
In a recent conversation with CNN Business, Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay, revealed the company’s awareness of—and perhaps optimism about—the crypto markets.
“We’re watching cryptocurrency,” Bailey said. “We think it’s interesting. We think it has interesting long-term potential.”
. Samsung has already launched a similar device.
Samsung has been testing the wallet at a store in Europe, offering the device for $40 per month.
Apple's next-generation iPhone may feature an NFC chip or a new hardware design that integrates NFC payment capabilities into the operating system, says a Wall Street analyst.
The chip would allow Apple to tap into a bank's or credit union's terminal to buy and sell goods on the company's website when the users are near the terminal. Currently, the company operates its website and App Store through Apple Pay, a feature that lets users pay with a simple touch of their finger on an iPhone. This feature, in the past year, has been used for $400 million worth of transactions.
Apple is working with two of the biggest banks in Europe and the United States to develop its own banking-integrated app. Apple could also release an app that integrates the bank's debit card as an in-app digital wallet.
Despite the company's relatively conservative stance, Apple has already launched two major apps on the blockchain system, called iCheckbook and ApplePay.