Microsoft Wallet Tap-to-Pay Option Arrives In Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview

Microsoft is ready to enter the NFC wireless payments arena with its Windows 10 Mobile platform with the official arrival of Microsoft Wallet. We first learned of Microsoft's intentions earlier this month via leaked internal builds of Windows 10 Mobile, but Microsoft Wallet is now being introduced in the latest Insider Preview builds.

Microsoft Wallet is analogous to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay in the mobile payments sector. Given that this feature is still a work in progress, Microsoft only has the backing of VISA and MasterCard at this point in development, in conjunction with eight major banks (including Bank of America, Chase, and US Bank). Microsoft Wallet is currently accepted at over one million retail locations in the United States, and more retailers are expected to come onboard in the coming months.

"Our customers have asked us to extend similar experiences to their phones and we are excited they can now enjoy easy, more secure transactions with Microsoft Wallet and tap to pay on their Windows 10 Mobile phone," writes Will White from the Microsoft Payments Team. "To help making shopping a breeze, Microsoft Wallet also provides one convenient place to store reward and membership numbers so all customers have to do is reference or scan them right from their phone."

Microsoft Wallet is currently supported on three Windows 10 Mobile devices: the Lumia 650, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

Microsoft expects general availability for Microsoft Wallet "later this summer," and at this time there is no word on international availability (Windows Phone has traditionally shown greater strength in the European market).

Source: Microsoft Wallet Tap-to-Pay Option Arrives In Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview