ExxonMobil launches Apple Pay at the pump at 6,000 stations, only through in-app purchase
Apple Pay users can now pay at the pump at 6,000 ExxonMobil gas stations, though it's through the official Speedpass+ app, instead of a tap-to-pay transaction.
The Speedpass+ app was updated on Tuesday with support for Apple Pay on compatible devices. Previously, users had to manually enter and save their credit card info to use the app, but now they can authorize purchases with just the scan of a fingerprint.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook first revealed in January that ExxonMobil was set to accept Apple Pay at the pump through Speedpass+ at some 6,000 Exxon and Mobil stations. After identifying their station via GPS, the app allows users to enter their pump number or scan a QR code to pay for their specific terminal.
The app can also be used to purchase a car wash with Apple Pay, where available.
ExxonMobil's support, however, is not quite the seamless tap-to-pay support for Apple Pay that most consumers identify with. By relying on in-app purchases, the Speedpass+ app allows mobile payments without the need to install NFC reading contactless payment terminals at the pump.
Launching at 6,000 Exxon and Mobil gas stations in 46 states starting Tuesday, Apple Pay support will expand to 2,000 more locations by mid-year, according to CNet. ExxonMobil plans to have Apple Pay with Speedpass+ at all of its 10,000 stores by the end of the year.
The Speedpass+ app was updated on Tuesday with support for Apple Pay on compatible devices. Previously, users had to manually enter and save their credit card info to use the app, but now they can authorize purchases with just the scan of a fingerprint.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook first revealed in January that ExxonMobil was set to accept Apple Pay at the pump through Speedpass+ at some 6,000 Exxon and Mobil stations. After identifying their station via GPS, the app allows users to enter their pump number or scan a QR code to pay for their specific terminal.
The app can also be used to purchase a car wash with Apple Pay, where available.
ExxonMobil's support, however, is not quite the seamless tap-to-pay support for Apple Pay that most consumers identify with. By relying on in-app purchases, the Speedpass+ app allows mobile payments without the need to install NFC reading contactless payment terminals at the pump.
Launching at 6,000 Exxon and Mobil gas stations in 46 states starting Tuesday, Apple Pay support will expand to 2,000 more locations by mid-year, according to CNet. ExxonMobil plans to have Apple Pay with Speedpass+ at all of its 10,000 stores by the end of the year.
Comments
Especially for gas. Stupid Exxon.
I saw the headline and thought hey I could get my gas from them and use Apple Pay--then I saw the app requirement, and that is not reasonable.
... the epitome of a non customer-first, Microsoft-esque solution.
On the contrary, I think this is an elegant solution for using Apple Pay to buy gas.
I just now downloaded the Speedpass+ app and found all my local Exxon/Mobil stations, which is a handy feature in itself.
When I tap "Pay for Fuel" I get a camera window for scanning the pump's QR code.
I haven't actually used the app yet, but I would expect then to be able to select the Apple Pay-activated card I want to use with which to pay.
Looks very straightforward to me! I will see how the price compares, though. . .
Wrong.
This is a PASS (as in Speedpass!). Looks simple and elegant to me.
'Nuff said.
https://www.speedpass.com/how-speedpass-works
UPDATE: I just installed the Speedpass+ App and it only requires you to Register with a valid email account - which could easily be a 'blind-account'. There is no other personal data required ( you can put any "NAME" you want in the registration).
It's just to bad merchants want to be so 'in the way' of the transaction.
It's also a great marketing tool for them. The app helps the user find the nearest E/M station so that they can buy gas with Apple Pay. What Apple Pay user doesn't want to use it everywhere in order to maximize its convenience and security?
With this system, the bad guys' pump card snoopers won't work for Apple Pay customers, either.
I'll check for sure when I start using this system whether or not they add a service charge or something, but I'm guessing that they won't.
I checked with E/M a few weeks ago about the availability of Apple Pay. I was told that it would only be available with Speedpass+, but that it also wouldn't be available in Florida right away, most likely because of the time it would take to install all the NFC scanners.
But with today's news of the updated system, I downloaded the app, tapped on "Find a Station", and I see all of my local E/M stations.
This is a much better and more straightforward solution.
I'll be purchasing my next gas at E/M and let y'all know how it went, using Apple Pay. I'm excited!
In the app, you can select payment methods other than Apple Pay.
Look before you "think".
Keep in mind that no user or account data is included in an Apple Pay transaction, and that transaction goes from customer to bank via the phone app, not through E/M. All E/M gets is that you as a customer bought so much gas at a particular pump/station. That's essentially anonymous, and it ultimately benefits you as E/M can learn better which stations get the business so that they can pay more attention to those, and they can better determine where to put new stations.
Dinosaur.