Reports: CVS Health, Walgreens to accept new Apple wireless payment system

NEW YORK — Both CVS Health and Walgreens will be leading retail innovation when Apple unveils its iPhone 6 tomorrow as they are both expected to accept purchases made with the new iPhone payment system, according to published reports on Friday. 

 

According to re/code, representatives for Walgreens and Apple declined to comment. CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis told the online news source, “We don’t know what Apple may be planning in terms of a payment system so it is not possible for us to say whether it is something our stores may be able to accept.”

 

If true, retail pharmacy giants CVS Health and Walgreens gives Apple access to more than 15,000 retail doors where consumers can buy anything from aspirin and cosmetics using Apple's new payment system. It would also serve as a testimonial as to the sway the retail pharmacy channel holds with early adopters. 

 

According to reports, Apple’s mobile payment system is expected to let shoppers wave or tap their phone at checkout terminals using a wireless technology called near field communication to transmit payment information from a phone to a store’s checkout system. "The soon-to-launch iPhone 6 is expected to be the first Apple device to include NFC technology," re/code reported. "The new payment method will also likely include the use of fingerprint identification already available on the latest iPhones as an added security measure."