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Writer's pictureBurton Kelso, Tech Expert

How to Make Payments With Your Smartphone



The ability to be able to pay from your smartphone has been around for a while, but with the variety of apps and services, it can be hard to understand how these systems work. Smartphone payment services allow you to connect your credit or debit card to your smartphone so you can pay for goods and services simply by tapping your phone on the contactless card reader or logging into an app. CashApp, Paypal, Venmo and Apple Pay are some of the few services you can use. Are you looking to set up Google Pay, Apple Pay, or another form of smartphone payment on your phone? Here's what you need to know.


Is it safe to pay with your smartphone? Yes, storing a credit card on your phone or using a mobile payment app is one of the most secure ways to pay. Phone payment apps use the same encryption security technology as contactless credit cards (the kind you tap instead of swipe), and pay-with-phone transactions use a method to hide your actual debit or credit card number during the transaction and protect your card information from prying eyes.


Do all smartphones support mobile payments? Not all smartphones can support mobile payment systems. Here's a list of supported devices:

  • Apps like CashApp, Venmo, and Paypal will work with supported Android and iOS operating systems.

  • The oldest model you can use Apple Pay on is the iPhone 6 and on all Apple Watches

  • Google Pay works on any Android 5.0 smartphone

  • Samsung Pay works on the Samsung Galaxy s6 and more recent models, the Galaxy A series of smartphones and Samsung Galaxy watches.


How do I get started? Each mobile payment system is different. Here’s a step-by-step guide for three of the most popular mobile payment apps.


Apple Pay. First, add your credit cards to Apple Pay. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the plus sign and follow the instructions to add a new credit card to Wallet. Once you’ve added the card, your bank or card issuer will verify the card. From there, you can begin using the verified credit card on Apple Pay. To make a purchase, do the following:

First, unlock your iPhone. If you have a newer iPhone that has Face ID, double-click the side button. Then you’ll be asked to authenticate via Face ID or entering your passcode.

If your iPhone has Touch ID, rest your finger on the sensor.

Then, select the card you’d like to use (you can choose a default card during setup) and hold your unlocked phone over the contactless credit card reader. Once the payment goes through, you’ll see a “done” icon on your phone screen.


Google Pay. Start by adding at least one credit card to the Google Pay app. Use the app to take a photo of your credit card or enter the information manually. Allow your bank or credit card issuer to verify your card, and you’ll be ready to begin making payments. To make Google Pay payments from your phone, simply unlock your phone and hold it over the contactless credit card reader. If a blue checkmark appears, your payment is complete.


Samsung Pay. If you’ve got a Samsung phone, you’ll want to set up Samsung Pay. The app comes pre-installed on most Samsung phones. Open the app, tap “Get Started,” and create a unique PIN. Then follow the instructions to add credit cards to Samsung Pay. Once your credit cards are set up within the app, you can begin using Samsung Pay to make credit card phone payments.


Venmo. Download Venmo from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Open the Venmo app. Choose your sign-up method and create a secure password. Verify your phone number and email address. Add and verify your bank account and credit card information.


CashApp. Download the app for iPhone or Android. Create a Cash App account

Connect Cash App to your bank account. Add cash to your Cash App


Paypal. Go to www.paypal.com and click Sign Up. Select Sign Up for a Personal Account. Enter your country, email address, and password. Enter your other personal details.

Link your credit card or bank account to PayPal. Verify your email address with PayPal.


I hope you can use these tips to help you set up your smartphone for mobile payments. Knowing how to use your credit card on your phone can make shopping more convenient and keep you from having to make contact with the card terminal. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!



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