An internal version of Microsoft's Wallet app reveals that the Redmond tech giant is planning to compete with Apple Pay and Android Pay with a new feature called Tap to Pay. This should allow Windows 10 Mobile users to pay with the Wallet app using their smartphone. To use it, the phone needs to support Near Field Communication (NFC).
Tap to Pay will likely first only be available in the United States, according to Windows Central. The new Wallet app will likely become available in the summer when Microsoft will release the Windows 10 (Mobile) Anniversary Update. The service will be using Host Card Emulation which means it is compatible with current NFC payment systems.
In order to use it, users can add a credit card and/or loyalty card to their Microsoft account by simply scanning the card. Payments are done by holding the phone near a store's NFC reader and after the payment is done a push message alerts the user the payment has been made.
Microsoft's Tap to Pay is the answer to competing NFC payment methods for other mobile operating systems. Apple has Apple Pay on iOS and Google markets Android Pay for Android. Also Samsung is in the NFC payments market with its Samsung Pay feature on Galaxy phones.
