It’s official: Apple Pay goes live Monday, Oct. 20

Cupertino, Calif.--Apple announced that its mobile payments solution, Apple Pay, will be launched in the United States on Monday, October 20. CEO Tim Cook made the announcement Thursday at a media event at which he unveiled several new products, including updated versions of the iPad.



"We think it (Apple Pay) is going to be profound. It's going to change the way we pay for things," Cook said.



In its official statement about the launch, Apple once again emphasized the security elements of the new solution.



“It doesn’t collect any transaction information that can be tied back to a user and payment transactions are between the user, the merchant and the user’s bank,” the company said. “Apple doesn’t collect your purchase history, so when you are shopping in a store or restaurant we don’t know what you bought, where you bought it or how much you paid for it. Actual card numbers are not stored on the device.”



Credit cards and debit cards from the three major payment networks, American Express, MasterCard, and Visa, are supported by Apple Pay, and several banks, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, and more have signed up to partner with Apple on the payments initiative.



The reaction to Apple Pay has been amazing,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of Internet Software and Services. We continue to add more Apple Pay ready banks, credit card companies and merchants, and think our users will love paying with Apple Pay.”



In addition to the 262 Apple U.S. retail stores, Apple Pay will be available at launch in a number of retailers.



The list includes: Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Babies”R”Us, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloomingdale’s, Champs Sports, Chevron and Texaco retail stores including ExtraMile, Disney Store, Duane Reade, Footaction, Foot Locker, House of Hoops by Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Macy’s, McDonald’s, Nike, Office Depot, Panera Bread, Petco, RadioShack, RUN by Foot Locker, SIX:02, Sports Authority, Subway, Toys"R"Us, Unleashed by Petco, Walgreens, Wegmans and Whole Foods Market.



In addition, many others will add support this year, such as Anthropologie, Free People, Sephora, Staples, Urban Outfitters, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.