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The main difference is that Samsung Pay works at almost all stores that accept credit or debit cards, not just those with tap-to-pay NFC terminals (as long as you own a Galaxy phone released before 2021 in the US). How does Samsung Pay differ from Apple Pay or Google Pay? It's also listed in the Samsung Pay app.įrom a watch, press and hold the appropriate button to launch Samsung Pay, then tap the watch against the terminal. Once the payment is made you'll get a notification that confirms the merchant name and the amount. If you're using a debit card through Samsung Pay, you may still need to enter the card PIN on the terminal. You'll see a transaction notification pop up at the top of the screen. While future devices will no longer include magnetic stripe technology (MST), customers with previous, compatible Galaxy devices will be able to continue using Samsung Pay, including MST," Samsung said in a statement to CNET.
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"Due to the rapid adoption of near field communication (NFC) technology by consumers and businesses, beginning with devices launched in 2021, Samsung Pay will focus its support on NFC transactions, across the Galaxy portfolio. However, starting with the Galaxy S21, new Galaxy phones released in the US will no longer support MST. In 2015 Samsung acquired mobile payment company LoopPay, which developed the specific MST technology used for Samsung Pay. The phone emits a magnetic signal to simulate the magnetic strip found on the back of a credit or debit card when you hold the phone against one of these readers. The second is magnetic secure transmission (MST) for older terminals where you would normally swipe a card. The first is near-field communication (NFC) for tap-to-pay transactions at contactless terminals. Samsung Pay uses two technologies that allow it to work almost anywhere. A total of 10 cards can be added to Samsung Pay.
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