At Apple's Monday press conference showcasing its many new services like its magazine newsstand-inspired Apple News+, it also showed off a new way to pay for things.
That's right, Apple is getting into credit cards. It's not just Apple Pay anymore, now there's Apple Card. It's a credit card stored in your digital wallet accessed through your iPhone.
Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay, called it a credit card designed for the iPhone. It's accepted anywhere Apple Pay is already accepted, but for those places where Apple Pay won't work, Apple offers a physical credit card.
A titanium card with your name laser-etched on the front will function as a "real" credit card, but it's also linked to your Apple Wallet and Apple Card info. Goldman Sachs and Mastercard are working with Apple Card, so there are financial institutions backing the new venture.
Bailey touted no late fees, penalty fees, flexible payment plans, and clear financial statements on the physical and digital card. She teased a low interest rate, but specifics weren't immediately shared at the event. But she did go into the Apple Card rewards program. It's called Daily Cash with "cash back" paid out every day.
You get 3 percent pack on Apple purchases (like Apple News+ with its $9.99 monthly subscription fee), 2 percent when using Apply Pay, and 1 percent back for every purchase on the physical Apple Card.
CreditCards.com analyst Ted Rossman wrote in an email right after the announcement that he was underwhelmed with the card and that there are better reward options on other cards. "People will sign up for it, but that will be mostly because they love Apple, not because this card is better than anything that already exists," he said.
The card will be available in the U.S. starting this summer.
Topics iPhone
