With Apple expected to announce the boot-up of its iPhone digital wallet in a matter of days, OpenTable is beginning the nationwide rollout of its pay-by-phone system.
Separately, American Express announced that customers who amass rewards points when they use an Amex card will soon be able to cash in the premiums for food from McDonald’s if they pay with their iPhones. Every McDonald’s should be participating in the redemption program by mid-December, Amex said.
OpenTable alerted consumers in Washington, D.C., yesterday that they could now paying at their tables via the OpenTable app.
“Slide to pay and you’re off to your next adventure,” said a promotion that was email to OpenTable users. It offered a $10 credit to patrons who try the option.
The service will be rolled to at least 19 additional cities by year’s end, according to press reports. The pay-at-the-table service was previously available only in OpenTable’s test markets of New York and San Francisco.
Apple has not revealed when its Apple Pay system would go live. However, McDonald’s, a charter user, told unit managers in a memo intercepted by the media that they should be ready to start accepting the cashless payments by today.
Other users of the system include Starbucks and Subway.
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