Apple Pay begins global roll out with AmEx in Canada
Apple has launched Apple Pay in Canada, but only for American Express (AmEx) card holders. Transactions can be made at any retailer supporting AmEx's wireless payment system, which includes major chains such as Tim Hortons, Staples, and McDonald's. Meanwhile, online payments can be made in apps including Uber, Starbucks and Groupon. Apple also added two more supporting banks in the UK, TSB and Tesco Bank, and will debut the service in Australia later this week, again with AmEx as the initial local card issuer. Apple's mobile payment service will be expanded to Spain, Singapore and Hong Kong in 2016.

Apple Pay goes live in Canada, adds two UK banks, coming to Australia on Thursday

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Image Credit: Peter J. Thompson/National Post

On Tuesday Apple officially launched Apple Pay in Canada, simultaneously announcing two more supporting banks in the U.K., and a Thursday debut for the service in Australia.

Canadian payments are currently limited to American Express cards, and further exclude co-branded AmEx cards offered by Scotiabank and others. Transactions can be made at any retailer supporting AmEx's wireless payment system however, which includes major chains such as Tim Hortons, Indigo, Staples, Petro Canada, and McDonald's.

Online payments can be made in apps like Uber, Starbucks, Domino's, Groupon, and Priceline.

In the U.K. — which got Apple Pay in July — shoppers can now add cards from TSB or Tesco Bank.

Apple revealed the Australian launch date to the Financial Post, but didn't elaborate on any details, such as supporting merchants. As with Canada, though, American Express will be initial local card issuer.

The service will ultimately need to expand beyond AmEx in Canada and Australia, as most people in those countries use cards from other issuers, like Visa or MasterCard.