Why are people so in love with the QR payment systems vs what Apple Pay has done? I'm not saying to be excited about being beholden to Apple, but their payment system just seems so much more efficient than the whole QR system. What am I missing?
QR code payment systems don't require me to buy into the entire integrated Apple hardware/software ecosystem just to make payments.
If you mean “NFC payments in general”, that’s a different question.
Your comment suggests you think it is, at worst, an acceptable cost for the convenience of Apple Pay over other alternatives. I’m saying that, for some of us, it is not.
Some huge proportion of payments in China are already done with QR codes (WeChat/AliPay).
From the consumer side basically any phone that can (1) run apps (2) communicate with the internet and (3) has a camera supports payments this way. You may recognize that as "every single smartphone". A $100 little 2" Unihertz Jelly Pro supprots it. A $30 old used phone off of Aliexpress supports it.
From the merchant end, there's no extra hardware requirements. Literally just print a QR code and stick it on the counter and you're ready to accept payments. (E.g., https://sampi.co/wechat-pay/) Some of the smaller shops just have you show them your screen showing the payment being sent. Others will keep a phone or other device on hand to confirm the payment was received on their end.
Half of the value of a payment system is in it being ubiquitous. The onboarding experience with QR codes is so hilariously simple and accessible that it's much easier to get that market penetration.
NFC payment terminals can work while the user's device is offline, like rural areas with poor cellular coverage. Not to mention tap-and-pay cards that don't even need a battery.
(Note: The few cases in the US I've seen QR code based payments, it's been for things like Alipay at a traditional point of sale terminal - which would also have a traditional card terminal with NFC reader. I could see QR codes being useful in other contexts, like paying a paper bill that came in the mail.)
It is very convenient.
I find Apple Pay integration to be deeper and so I find it more convenient to access. However I haven’t used a Google phone in a while so maybe the situation has been improved.
If you want someone to use a feature that you made, you need to put it out there. Everywhere.
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solves this problem, using QR Codes.
My favorite so far has been many restaurants giving a bill with a QR code that opens up a website that allows for in browser Apple Pay.
Seems not to be separate from QR codes to me, but I still like the Apple Pay portion and total integration
Are you referring to the browser thing? Or the NFC thing which isn't used in this payment flow?
I'm hoping this is sarcasm and I missed the joke.
I really hope I didn't get the joke.