Ant Group further taps payment biz with Tap!

Alipay has expanded the nation's payment services market, with its new product — Alipay Tap! — recently becoming available in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

According to the company, tens of thousands of stores and restaurants across the city have started using the service.

With the service, which was introduced by Ant Group's payment arm in July, users can make payments simply by keeping the phone screen unlocked and then tapping their smartphones against the cash register.

"Many young people appreciate our new payment solution, while those who are senior or visually impaired can now make payments without finding a payment code, which has significantly reduced the barrier to using mobile payments," said Gao Zheng, product manager of Alipay Tap!.

Many stores, supermarkets and restaurants in Guangzhou have already accepted payment by Tap!, the company said, adding that about 100,000 restaurants nationwide, including some McDonald's outlets, have applied to start using the new technology.

"We will continue to focus on key cities like Guangzhou, optimizing product experiences, expanding scene openness through partnerships and conducting diverse operational activities to boost local consumption vitality," said Gao. "Foreign visitors in China can also use the service."

The nation released a guideline earlier this year to continue optimizing payment services in the country.

The guideline, issued by the State Council, China's Cabinet, focused on providing higher-quality, more effective and more convenient payment services for senior citizens and foreign visitors.

The guideline stresses the need to expand the acceptance rate of bank card payments to meet the demand of the elderly and foreigners who use bank cards in various scenarios.

China will facilitate the use of cash and currency exchanges, according to the guideline document. Banks and payment institutions are encouraged to work with clearing houses and upgrade their services for the convenience of seniors and overseas visitors, as per the guideline.

It states that large business districts, tourist attractions, hotels, hospitals and other key locations are required to support diversified payment options, including mobile, bank card and cash payments.

The guideline also highlights efforts to streamline account-opening services and enhance the promotion of various payment services.