“Samsung introduces payment service at the same time as Galaxy S6”

Samsung would provide its new Galaxy S6 flagship with its own payment system. This means that the new top device must especially be able to cope with the iPhone 6 with Apple Pay, the payment service of competitor Apple.

At least that is what PhoneArena notes on Tuesday on the basis of various Korean media. That news site has often been right and it is therefore likely that this rumor is also correct. According to the site, at least the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge are provided with the payment service.

Rumors that Samsung wants to provide its devices with its own payment service are not new. At the end of last year, it emerged that the electronics giant was in negotiations with start-up LoopPay. That company is involved in techniques that allow an external device to wirelessly exchange data with payment equipment in stores.

Samsung is competing with Apple with its mobile payment system. That introduced its Pay service last year. Samsung’s technology would also offer people with their own device the opportunity to make payments with their smartphone in physical stores.

According to PhoneArena, Samsung’s new payment system does not include an NFC, but mimics the use of a credit card. This would allow the technology to be used by more companies than is the case with Apple Pay. In addition, the system could be used in more countries; Apple Pay may be available in Europe early this year.

The first devices to be equipped with Samsung’s payment system are the as yet unannounced Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung will probably present it on Sunday evening, March 1, a few hours after HTC may announce its One M9. The Galaxy S6 will be more expensive than the iPhone 6 at release, according to an Android fan site.