iOS 11 Apple Pay NFC Switching in Action

fullsizeoutput_882cThe Apple Pay NFC switching feature in iOS 11 along with global NFC A-B-F support in every iPhone X and iPhone 8 gives Japanese Apple Pay users the unique ability to use the same Apple Pay credit card with FeliCa contactless payment networks in Japan and EMV contactless payment networks abroad.

There is just one catch. Credit card issuers have to support it. American Express announced NFC switching support for Apple Pay Japan customers shortly after the Apple Event last September, the same time that J/Speedy and Mastercard Contactless Apple Pay Japan support was announced. KDDI au and Mastercard said they were also working on NFC switching support but nothing has appeared so far.

Twitter user Riikun shared his American Express Apple Pay Japan purchase experience in Hawaii. The FeliCa QUICPay mark in Wallet is visible on the left, the EMV contactless receipt is on the right. It looks boring but it all just works. That’s neat. It would be great if Mastercard and Visa joined the party.