3 ms·

Why couldn't they have dropped the magstripe completely and forced the card to use online chip mode only and then declined all transactions unless temporarily u

Why couldn't they have dropped the magstripe completely and forced the card to use online chip mode only and then declined all transactions unless temporarily unlocked within app? Would be a lot simpler than pairing card to phone.

untog 8y ago
Presumably because there are still a lot of transactions out there requiring a magstrip.
- reaperducer 8y ago
  You are correct. Lots of places still don't take chips. Pei Wei for one. At Lowes last month I noticed that chip is only accepted for credit transactions; debit has to be swiped. Or the other way around.
  - NoPicklez 8y ago
    Whereas here in Australia you'd be hard pressed to find a place where you can use magstrip. It's tap to pay by default.
    - reaperducer 8y ago
      I think this is one of the few cases where technology upgrades are easier in Australia. Since there are only 53 banks in Australia, and 14 are owned by the government, it's a lot less complex than other countries. In the United States there are almost 5,000 commercial banks plus another 5,500 credit unions.
      - NoPicklez 8y ago
        I agree, however on the flipside the Apple pay rollout has been a nightmare. Our big 4 banks have been fighting over the implementation of the platform which has led to some our biggest banks simply not implementing it. This is where the Apple card will put additional pressure on our institutions to be more compliant. Given that if my current bank won't allow it, I can easily sign up with Apple card and be on my way
  - ams6110 8y ago
    In the USA, pay at the pump transactions for fuel are still 100% mag strip as far as I've seen. The POS terminal inside can typically do chip transactions, but not the pumps.
    - mathgeek 8y ago
      I’ve used Apple Pay at a few Sheetz stations along I-95, but the vast majority of stations are still swipe-only.
- morpheuskafka 8y ago
  Most people who buy iPhones probably already have at least one credit card, and this would be a good way for people to start demanding that merchants buy new readers.

untog 8y ago

Presumably because there are still a lot of transactions out there requiring a magstrip.

reaperducer 8y ago
You are correct. Lots of places still don't take chips. Pei Wei for one. At Lowes last month I noticed that chip is only accepted for credit transactions; debit has to be swiped. Or the other way around.
- NoPicklez 8y ago
  Whereas here in Australia you'd be hard pressed to find a place where you can use magstrip. It's tap to pay by default.
  - reaperducer 8y ago
    I think this is one of the few cases where technology upgrades are easier in Australia. Since there are only 53 banks in Australia, and 14 are owned by the government, it's a lot less complex than other countries. In the United States there are almost 5,000 commercial banks plus another 5,500 credit unions.
    - NoPicklez 8y ago
      I agree, however on the flipside the Apple pay rollout has been a nightmare. Our big 4 banks have been fighting over the implementation of the platform which has led to some our biggest banks simply not implementing it. This is where the Apple card will put additional pressure on our institutions to be more compliant. Given that if my current bank won't allow it, I can easily sign up with Apple card and be on my way
- ams6110 8y ago
  In the USA, pay at the pump transactions for fuel are still 100% mag strip as far as I've seen. The POS terminal inside can typically do chip transactions, but not the pumps.
  - mathgeek 8y ago
    I’ve used Apple Pay at a few Sheetz stations along I-95, but the vast majority of stations are still swipe-only.
morpheuskafka 8y ago
Most people who buy iPhones probably already have at least one credit card, and this would be a good way for people to start demanding that merchants buy new readers.