Have you ever been in a situation when you forgot your credit card, had no cash and, on top of all, you were dying to have your favorite Starbuck Mocchiato with a classic coffee cake right before your work? I bet you thought about your wallet being without the wallet. With this statement, “Your wallet. Without the wallet,” Apple introduces their next biggest mobile payment and digital wallet – Apple Pay. Forget about your five hundred credit cards, magnetic strips, exposed card numbers, security codes and swiping. Now you can pay with a tap while using your device.

I always get excited to watch new announcements of Apple Inc. They are the best in the computing industry. To be honest, Apple Pay reminded me of Google’s Wallet failure. You may think that Apple Pay and Google Wallet are twin-sister terms. In fact, they are far more like distant cousins.

I consider Apple Pay to be something borrowed mixed with something new. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which has been out for at least five years, lets customers pay with their mobile devices. The new thing is, for authentication, Apple Pay uses your fingerprint. While it only works for those with an iPhone 5s or iPhone, this technology gets rid of the need for pin numbers. In addition, if you ever lose your device you can simply use Apple’s find my phone service to track down the phone, which means no more cancelations.

I think Apple’s marketing is very influential. For example, Apple did not invent touch screens, but when they used it for their products it became revolutionary. The same here, NFC is not new, but Apple has enough force in the market to push people using it.

This being said, I bet Apple will revolutionize the whole “fairly antiquated payments process.” This is my prediction. In three years, our plastic credit cards will be in the same pile with all the junk such as cassettes, Sony PlayStation and so on.

First, Apple has a vigorous control over the market. It took over the world of computing. Their products are not an ordinary devices or gadgets; they became the sign of social status. Second, there are people who buy Apple products just because it is an Apple product, even though some have no idea how to use them. They are Apple’s loyal customers.

Imagine all the Apple users are switching to the digital wallet, which means more and more places will accept mobile payments. Right now, according to Apple, 220,000 merchants are using this system. We can shop at our favorite stores such as Macy’s, Panera, Starbucks, Target, GroupOn, Walgreen’s, Toys `R’ Us, Subway, Whole Foods, Disney, PetCo, McDonald’s, Nike and more.

Eventually, Android users will switch to the digital payment too since they have the technology that allows them to pay with a tap built in their devices already. Apple’s marketing will encourage everyone to go with the flow.

I think this is a brilliant idea in terms of convenience, privacy and time. Apple is going to be the force that will change the world and bring it to the next level. It will beat up the credit card industry. We are going to be one more step closer to the technologically advanced future.