U.S. Government To Accept Apple Pay

(RTTNews) - The U.S. government would start accepting Apple Pay later this year, said Apple CEO Tim Cook, signaling an unambiguous belief by the administration in the mobile payment service's security features.

Cook made the announcement on Friday at the White House's summit on cyber security and consumer protection at Stanford University.

From September, Apple Pay will make a modest beginning with some government transactions such as admission to national parks using the payment service.

This will be followed by Apple Pay's application to social security and veterans' benefits. Cook said the tech giant is working with major banks and networks to use Apple Pay with benefit programs like social security and veterans' pensions.

Cook also said his company is striving to ensure that government employees' credit and procurement cards can be used with Apple Pay for their expenses.

Apple will be working with the government to ensure the smooth and secure transition to digital identification of things such as passports and driver's licenses.

Cook is among those reportedly invited to speak at the White House Summit on Cyber security and Consumer Protection at Stanford University, and which will be addressed by President Barack Obama.

The summit coalesces leaders from the federal government; CEOs from industries including technology, financial services, retail and computer security; as well as law enforcement officials, consumer advocates and students to help bolster cyber security.

Apple Pay is a mobile and digital wallet service that lets users make payments using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch-compatible devices (iPhone 5 and later models), iPad Air 2, and iPad Mini 3.

Apple Pay does not require Apple-specific contactless payment terminals and will work with Visa's PayWave, MasterCard's PayPass, and American Express's ExpressPay terminals. The service has begun initially only for use in the U.S., with international roll-out planned for the future.