[2016-09-14] Apple iPhone Users Can Now Send Bitcoin Directly via Messages

[elyas772]

Apple has approved Circle for iMessage, which enables devices using iOS 10 to send and receive social and personal payments without fees directly within Apple’s iMessage. The feature supports dollars, euro, pound sterling and bitcoin, and can fund payments and cash out using almost any bank in the US and the UK. Circle additionally promises that support for European banks is coming soon.

If you are using Android and someone sends you a payment via iMessage you will receive a URL  to cash out, send your own payments, or install the Circle app for Android. As for users outside of markets in which Circle currently supports local currency they will receive bitcoin, and can cash out to their local bank account and currency using a regional bitcoin exchange.

http://www.financemagnates.com/cryptocurrency/innovation/apple-iphone-users-can-now-send-bitcoin-directly-via-messages/

[ObscureBean]

Just found out about this, this is absolutely fantastic news!!  It's a massive step forward for Bitcoin and the blockchain technology, not only that, it's pretty big for personal payments in general. Sending payments without fees directly from iMessage is way easier than gifting money via PayPal. I think it's a real smart move from Apple. Makes me wanna forgive Cook's design choices for the iPhone 7 

[1Referee]

Just found out about this, this is absolutely fantastic news!!  It's a massive step forward for Bitcoin and the blockchain technology, not only that, it's pretty big for personal payments in general. Sending payments without fees directly from iMessage is way easier than gifting money via PayPal. I think it's a real smart move from Apple. Makes me wanna forgive Cook's design choices for the iPhone 7 

I'ts of course a great thing, but don't cheer yet, it's after all Apple that we are talking about. I wouln't be surprised if they at some point force Circle to stop allowing people to send and receive Bitcoin transactions.

[onlinedragon]

First Apple is removing all Bitcoin related apps from the AppStore few years earlier February 2014. Now they accept payments directly from iMessage. They have a confusing strategy if it comes to Bitcoin or any other Cryptocurrency.

http://www.coindesk.com/apple-removes-blockchain-bitcoin-wallet-from-app-stores/