cyber security, cybersecurity, information security, infosec, it support, managed it services, it solutions, managed security services, MSSP, MSP, HIPAA, FINRAIt's the long-awaited Apple Card

Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and their long-awaited "Apple Card" begins rolling out in limited fashion. The card becomes available to all iPhone owners in the United States toward the end of August.

According to CEO Tim Cook, a random selection of people who signed up to be notified about the Apple Card are getting an early-access sneak peek.

However, the company has been tight-lipped about exactly how many people are being invited into the preview group.

Real-time approval

If you're one of the lucky winners, know that the sign-up process will involve upgrading to iOS 12.4 and entering your address, your birthday, income level and the last four digits of your Social Security number.  That information is sent on to Goldman Sachs, which will approve or deny your credit application in real-time and in under a minute.

Note that part of the approval process also involves a TransUnion credit check, so if you have that information locked, you'll need to unlock it (at least long enough to get approval).

Once you've been approved, your card will show up in your Apple Wallet immediately and be available for use.  If you want one, you can request a physical card from Apple for free during the setup and it will arrive in the mail in a few days.

Interesting differences from other credit cards

The cool thing about the physical card is the fact that it has an NFC tag on it, so you can activate it simply by tapping the phone against it.

Also, note that you'll have three different credit card numbers associated with your Apple Card:

  • The number assigned to your phone
  • The number assigned to the physical card
  • A virtual number you can access in the app for online purchases where the vendor doesn't accept Apple Pay.

And that unlike the other credit cards in your wallet, this one has no expiration date or security code. You can lock the card at any time from the app, though.

Our perspective

Welcome to Apple's Brave New World!

Meanwhile, check out this report

This free executive report may give you insights into how to build your business with safe IT environments: 10 Hidden IT Risks That Might Threaten Your Business and 1 Easy Way to Find Them

The author

Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Cybersecurity Expert, Small Business Technology Consultant, Managed Services Provider, Managed IT SupportI am Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. I help professionals grow their business by building a foundation of rock-solid information solutions for smaller healthcare, insurance, financial, legal, and nonprofits firms in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. And have created cost-effective IT solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with a variety of organizations, as well as providing small business technology education programs through business and professional associations. This just in: I will be speaking regularly at California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership starting in September.

Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association.