A new report from French newspaper Les Echos (via iPhon.fr) [Google Translate] states that Apple Pay will be making its way to France by the end of the year. The introduction of Apple’s mobile payment solution will be a gradual rollout, with “a small handful of major French banks” supporting the service in a pilot program period of three to five months.

No specific date was given for the start of the rollout, but the pilot program is rumored to launch by September. The current state of negotiations between Apple and French banks is said to be paused at the issue of the transaction amount for each time a user pays with Apple Pay. A traditional payment with a debit card generates 9 cents for the partnering financial institution, with Apple’s current deal taking 5 cents per transaction, “more than half of the average income.” Some of the French banks see hope for an agreement to be reached by pointing to Apple’s agreement with banks in China.

But ” the agreement that the Chinese domestic network Union Pay happened is auspicious because it shows that Apple may make concessions ,” said one informed observer. According to the Chinese press, the group based in Cupertino would touch nothing for two years and he then held 0.07% of the transaction amount, which represents about a third of the current Banking Commission.

Last week rumors about Apple Pay’s expansion to France began with reports pointing to an official announcement by the company in the first half of 2016. Shortly thereafter, the service launched in China through a partnership with Union Pay. Including China, Apple Pay is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Spain expected to launch by the end of 2016.

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Source: MAC ROUMORS