Microsoft Pay vs Samsung Pay

June 11, 2023
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Microsoft Pay
Microsoft Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Microsoft that lets users make payments and store loyalty cards on certain devices. Add your credit or debit cards, or your PayPal info, to your Microsoft account. Your shipping details are also securely stored so there’s no need to enter your info each time you shop online—Microsoft Pay fills it in for you.
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Samsung Pay
Samsung’s mobile payments app that uses both near-field communications (NFC) and magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology. It’s brought MasterCard and Visa to the table as partners along with four of the largest card-issuing banks: JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi and US Bank.
Microsoft Pay and Samsung Pay are both mobile payment solutions that enable users to make contactless payments using their smartphones, but they have distinct differences:

1. Compatibility: Microsoft Pay is primarily designed for devices running the Windows operating system, including Windows 10 PCs, tablets, and smartphones. It offers seamless integration with Microsoft services and apps, such as Microsoft Wallet and Microsoft Store. Samsung Pay, on the other hand, is specifically tailored for Samsung devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, and other supported Samsung devices.

2. Technology and Compatibility: Samsung Pay stands out with its unique technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), which allows users to make payments at traditional magnetic stripe card readers in addition to NFC-enabled terminals. This gives Samsung Pay an advantage in terms of wider acceptance at various payment terminals. Microsoft Pay, on the other hand, relies primarily on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for contactless payments, which may limit its compatibility with older payment terminals.

3. Ecosystem and Integration: Microsoft Pay is deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, allowing users to easily make payments within Microsoft apps and services, such as the Microsoft Store and other partner apps. Samsung Pay, while having its own ecosystem, also integrates with a wide range of third-party apps, services, and loyalty programs, offering users more flexibility and convenience in making payments and managing rewards.

4. Device Compatibility: Microsoft Pay is compatible with a range of Windows devices, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Samsung Pay, as the name suggests, is primarily designed for Samsung devices, including both flagship and mid-range smartphones, smartwatches, and other supported devices. Samsung Pay has broader device compatibility across various Samsung products, while Microsoft Pay is limited to Windows devices.

5. Availability: Samsung Pay has a broader global presence and availability compared to Microsoft Pay, which is primarily focused on specific regions where Microsoft services and products have a stronger presence. Samsung Pay has expanded to support numerous countries and regions, whereas Microsoft Pay availability may vary depending on the market.
Microsoft Pay vs Samsung Pay in our news:

2018. Microsoft Pay comes to Outlook.com



Microsoft Pay, Microsoft's alternative to Google Pay and Apple Pay, will soon be integrated into Outlook. This exciting development enables users to make direct payments for invoices received via email without leaving the Outlook platform or resorting to other apps or services. Microsoft plans to initially roll out this feature to a limited number of Outlook.com users in the upcoming weeks, followed by a broader release over the next few months. The company has announced that payment processors such as Stripe (through Stripe Connect) and Braintree will support the service, while billing and invoicing services including Zuora, FreshBooks, Intuit, Invoice2Go, Sage, Wave, and Xero will be among the first adopters of this feature.


2016. Samsung Pay gets in-app payments and Masterpass support



Mobile payment platform Samsung Pay has joined forces with Mastercard to integrate support for Masterpass, a digital wallet solution that securely stores users' payment and shipping information for effortless online transactions. This collaboration enhances the convenience of Samsung Pay by allowing users to retain all their bank cards virtually on their mobile devices and utilize them for contactless payments. The service is set to launch in early 2017, while U.S. Samsung Pay users can anticipate in-app payment support starting in November. By selecting Samsung Pay as their preferred payment method within compatible merchant apps, users can seamlessly complete transactions. Furthermore, the introduction of the Deals feature enables Samsung Pay to automatically identify nearby discounts and coupons available at various retail stores and restaurants, granting users the opportunity to instantly redeem these enticing offers.


2015. Samsung Pay Launches In The US



Samsung Pay, the payment service developed by the device manufacturer to compete with NFC-based payment systems such as Apple Pay and Android Pay, has now been launched in the United States after its initial release in South Korea. In South Korea, Samsung Pay experienced transaction volumes exceeding $30 million within the first month. This payments platform, built on technology acquired from LoopPay, grants Samsung a potential competitive advantage by not being limited solely to NFC-based payments. Instead, Samsung Pay offers users the flexibility to make payments using their Samsung smartphones through NFC technology, similar to Apple and Google's solutions, or by emulating a magnetic stripe card. This versatility is expected to give Samsung Pay an edge in the short term. Additionally, as payment terminals increasingly support EMV and NFC technology, Samsung Pay will also adapt and continue to function seamlessly with these advancements.


2015. Samsung and MasterCard to launch Samsung Pay together in Europe



Samsung and MasterCard have decided to expand their collaboration by introducing the mobile payment system Samsung Pay in Europe. Powered by LoopPay, a company acquired by Samsung earlier this year as a competitor to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay is set to launch in the United States shortly and has already begun trials in South Korea earlier this month. Smartphones equipped with Samsung Pay will utilize the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES), the same system employed by iPhone 6 and Apple Watch to enable contactless NFC payments. Notably, one significant distinction between Apple Pay and Samsung Pay is the latter's support for magnetic strip technologies (MST) in existing point-of-sale terminals. This enables retailers to utilize Samsung Pay without upgrading their equipment. Samsung has highlighted that MST compatibility allows it to potentially reach up to 30 million merchants worldwide, subject to the establishment of partnerships with payment providers.


2015. Samsung Pay takes on Apple Pay and Google Wallet



Samsung has made an announcement about the upcoming launch of Samsung Pay, a new mobile payments solution that will be available on the latest Galaxy S6 and S6 edge smartphones during the summer. While Apple and Google were early entrants in the contactless payment market, Samsung Pay addresses significant gaps present in the services offered by Apple Pay and Google Wallet. Samsung Pay utilizes both near-field communications (NFC) and magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology obtained from LoopPay. This unique combination allows Samsung Pay to facilitate secure contactless transactions similar to Apple Pay, while also enabling "swipe" purchases on a majority of older payment terminals that have not adopted NFC technology yet. Samsung has partnered with MasterCard and Visa, along with four major card-issuing banks: JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, and US Bank, strengthening its position in the market.


2015. Samsung buys Apple Pay alternative LoopPay



Samsung has completed the acquisition of LoopPay, the mobile payments platform that competes with Apple Pay. LoopPay enables users to conveniently make mobile payments using their smartphones. Unlike Apple Pay, which relies on near-field communications (NFC), LoopPay utilizes magnetic secure transmission (MST), similar to the magnetic strip found on traditional credit cards. Users can securely store their credit card details in LoopPay's app, available on both iOS and Android. However, to process MST payments, customers need to have LoopPay's $59.95 card case or $10 key fob. LoopPay has previously emphasized the superiority and broader acceptance of its platform compared to Apple Pay since it utilizes external hardware instead of requiring merchants to adopt specific technology. Nonetheless, the requirement for additional hardware introduces an extra, potentially cumbersome step during transactions.