Samsung Could Open Samsung Pay To Rival Smartphones

Samsung Electronics could open up its Samsung Pay digital payment service to non-Samsung smartphones.

The news comes from Gadgets360 which cited a source familiar with the developments. The source reported the company has held internal talks with executives — as well as original equipment manufacturers — about bringing Samsung Pay to other high-end mobile phones.

If the rumor proves true, it would mark a stark departure from Samsung’s strategy of keeping its digital payment platform housed in its own devices. The report noted opening the payment platform to competitors smartphones would further expand the payment service, which is currently only available on select devices from the South Korean consumer electronics company.

Samsung Pay is included in many of the company’s high-end phones, but only on certain mid-range ones including the Galaxy J7 Pro and J7 Max. The lower-priced phones offer just a bare bones version of the payment service. Gadgets360 reported Samsung will roll out the full version of Samsung Pay on its medium-priced products later this year.

In order for Samsung Pay to work with competitors’ smartphones, the companies will have to add a chip that enables MST technology, according to Gadgets360. Its source told the tech website Samsung has held early talks with mobile phone makers in multiple markets. While talks persist, Samsung is also mulling the sale of an accessory that overcomes technical barriers for other smartphones to support Samsung Pay. The aim is for either of the solutions to be available by the middle of 2018, a source told Gadgets360.

Citing data from market research firm Juniper, Gadgets360 reported Samsung Pay boasts approximately 34 million customers — which puts it in second place behind Apple Pay with 80 million customers. Android Pay is a distant third with 24 million customers.

Samsung Pay has been on an expansion kick in recent months, making its debut in India earlier this year.