The Japanese press has, according to Ata Distance, reported that the payments service Apple Pay is set to become available in Japan alongside iOS 10.1 on Tuesday, October 25.
Interestingly, it is also on that day that, in the early morning hours, local mobile provider Docomo’s iD payment service and railway firm JR East’s Suica transit card system will be down for system maintenance. These services will both be integrated with Apple Pay upon its arrival in Japan.
All iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 models purchased in Japan come with not only the usual NFC technology, but also FeliCa Type-F NFC technology. While it was in September that Apple originally announced Apple Pay’s upcoming expansion to Japan, it didn’t cite a launch time more specific than October.
As iOS 10 is currently in its fourth beta, it would make sense for the update to come pretty soon. iOS 10.1 will bring the Portrait camera mode to the iPhone 7 Plus and, says Ata Distance, be necessary for using Apple Pay in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Much more information about Apple Pay’s functionality in Japan can be found on Apple’s local website for the payment service.
