Like the ez-link stored value cards, Apple Pay uses near-field communication technology to transmit data between the Apple device and a contactless reader. Users must first add their Amex credit card details to a digital wallet stored on their devices. This information is transmitted when the device is placed near the contactless reader during payment.

There are some 30,000 taxis and retail outlets fitted with these contactless readers islandwide, with participating merchants that include the FairPrice chain of supermarkets, and Starbucks and StarHub outlets.

Apple Pay’s rollout in Singapore comes after that in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and China. Its rollout in Spain and Hong Kong is expected later this year.

Visa cards issued by DBS, UOB and Standard Chartered will be supported “soon”, Apple said.

Apple Pay works with Apple devices that have the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, such as the iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2. The Apple Watch must be running on watch OS 2.1 or later to use Apple Pay.