Tim Cook: Mobile Payments 'One of the Thoughts' Behind Touch ID - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Tim Cook: Mobile Payments 'One of the Thoughts' Behind Touch ID

applestore.pngDuring Apple's earnings call today, CEO Tim Cook indicated that mobile payments were one of the driving forces behind the company’s decision to introduce Touch ID with the iPhone 5s.

The mobile payments area in general is one that we’ve been intrigued with. It was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID.

Cook went on to say that people love being able to buy digital content from their iPhones using Touch ID, because it's "incredibly simple and easy and elegant."

He added that while Apple is not planning on limiting Touch ID to digital purchases, the company had nothing specific to announce today, mobile payments are an opportunity that Apple has been "intrigued with" and there is a "big opportunity on the platform."

Tim Cook's comments on mobile payments follow a report last week that suggested Apple is currently working on developing a new mobile payment service that will allow the company to handle payments for physical goods and services in the future.

While Apple currently limits iTunes account holders to using their stored credit card information for purchases on Apple's online and retail stores through the Apple Store app, iTunes, and the App Store, stored information could be used in the future for other types of payments with Touch ID technology used to speed up and authenticate real world purchases.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...

Top Rated Comments

citi Avatar
159 months ago
I ain't touch the Touch ID feature with a ten foot pole, buddy. I don't like the idea of impulse buying, which is why I disable in app purchases as a matter of course. We're gonna see a lot of people spending money they don't have because pay this way is just a but of bits flying around. You don't see your hard earned cash leaving your wallet.

The same can be said about debit cards. If you are a spender, you will spend. If you are not, you won't.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
159 months ago
The same can be said about debit cards. If you are a spender, you will spend. If you are not, you won't.

I like the people who blame technology when, in reality, they have a spending and consumption problem. :cool:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
159 months ago
I ain't touch the Touch ID feature with a ten foot pole, buddy. I don't like the idea of impulse buying, which is why I disable in app purchases as a matter of course. We're gonna see a lot of people spending money they don't have because pay this way is just a but of bits flying around. You don't see your hard earned cash leaving your wallet.

Do you have a credit card?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pakaku Avatar
159 months ago
Who said anything about impulse buying being Apple's fault? Credit cards, on-line payments, the speedy pass payment all makes it easier to impulse buy. You have kids? You'll know the kind of financial headaches they can cause if you don't lock down the their devices to prevent in app purchases. Ever let the Missus go shoe shopping alone with YOUR credit card? That's the fast track to the poor house, buddy.

Touch ID is the first thing I would disable. THAT is taking responsibility. Disabling in app purchasing. THAT is taking responsibility. Suffer on a shopping trip with the Missus to keep her spending in check. THAT, my friend, is what it takes to be a man.
I just have to say, this whole "missus" thing sounds really... I don't know. Chauvanistic? Whatever putting your wife on the same level as your kids equates to.

I also don't understand how TouchID = giving your card out to someone else.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
159 months ago
Its about freaking time, how about a TV that doesn't suck that crushes Xbox and PS4, and implements a better, more streamlined Youtube-like platform for user generated content while you're at it? Getting a little tired of defending single digit growth over here... Thanks.

I see you've had your morning glass of prune juice. Just relax, Apple will release whatever they need to when it's ready.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lapidus Avatar
159 months ago
Didn't see that coming..
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Iphone | Travel | Entertainment | Business | Politics