Apple has launched its mobile payments service in Germany, four years after its start in the United States and months after rival Google started its payments app in the country.

Customers at banks including Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank unit Comdirect, Hypovereinsbank, Wirecard, Hanseatic Bank and of credit card providers Mastercard, Visa and American Express will from Tuesday be able to use Apple’s Boon app, the companies said.

The iOS boon app, available at the App Store to users of iOS devices in Germany, makes it possible for everybody to use Apple Pay instantly. Users can top up their boon account using any Mastercard or Visa credit card and via bank transfer. As a result, it is not necessary to already own a credit card from a bank supported by Apple Pay.

When the boon card information with Apple Pay is used, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and stored in the Secure Element on users' devices. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

Retailers such as discounters Aldi and Lidl, supermarket chain Kaufland, drugstores Rossmann and DM, department store chain Kaufhof, clothing retailers H&M, Esprit, C&A and Zara as well as consumer electronics chain MediaMarkt will accept payment with the app, which allows customers to pay contactless by holding their smartphone in front of a payment terminal.

In stores, Apple Pay works with iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later, and Apple Watch.

Online shopping in apps and on websites accepting Apple Pay is simple with Touch ID, or just double-click the side button and authenticate with a glance with Face ID. When paying for goods and services in apps or Safari, Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and later, iPhone SE, iPad Pro, iPad (5th Generation and later), iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 and later.

Apple has already launched its payment services in 20 other countries including France, Poland and Switzerland.