Digital wallets still a work in progress


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SALT LAKE CITY — Customers who love the idea of paying with their smartphones might have to put that thought on hold.

A few weeks ago, analysts declared Apple's Pay had a legitimate shot of being the first mobile payment system to overtake plastic.

Places like Whole Foods, McDonald's and Walgreens quickly adopted it. But two big players, RiteAid and CVS, have already dismantled their Apple Pay systems.

“We have Android. We have a growing Windows market. We have an Apple market. And so they addressed one part of the market but not the total market,” said Murray Jennex, an information systems professor.

Other retail giants such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Lowe's and Dunkin' Donuts won't even take it. They're part of what's called the Merchant Customer Exchange. That group favors a digital wallet due next year called, Current-C. It's linked directly to a customer's bank account.

Who will and won't accept Apple Pay
Stores that accept Apple Pay:
  • McDonald's
  • Sephora
  • Whole Foods
  • Walgreens

Stores that will not accept Apple Pay

  • Amazon
  • Wal-Mart
  • Best Buy
  • Lowe's
  • Dunkin' Donuts

See a complete list of stores who accept Apple Pay on ios.wonderhowto.com.

“No user wants to have to look down there and see four or five different readers and they have to figure out which they (should) try,” Jennex said.

The advantage for retailers using Current-C over Apple Pay is they won't have to pay swipe fees, but consumers might prefer Apple's system, analysts say, because it's easier.

Customers hold it near the reader, use their fingerprint and voila! Current-C, on the other hand, will require a series of steps that includes taking a picture of code generated by the retailer.

Analysts say ultimately, ease-of-use might decide how well consumers adopt digital wallets.

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Bill Gephardt

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