The system allows users to simply tap their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or Apple Watch on contactless payment points to complete transactions, using the same near-field communication technology found in contactless debit and credit cards.
Apple is still yet to officially confirm the date of the launch, but leaked memos from at least one UK supermarket made reference to Tuesday's date - July 14 - and a tweet from the HSBC UK Twitter account on Sunday confirmed the date in response to a question, before the tweet was swiftly deleted.
The technology is already available in the US, but the UK launch will mark the first time it has been made available outside the States. It does not require Apple-specific contactless payment terminals and when it is launched more than 250,000 locations will accept payments.
Privacy and security have been highlighted by Apple as key elements of the new technology and the Californian company's solution...