Everything you need to know about LG Pay

Why it matters to you

The more options there are for us to pay for goods and services with our smartphones, the more convenient mobile payment systems become.

Apple has Apple Pay, Samsung has Samsung Pay, Android has Android Pay, and now LG has LG Pay. Launched in South Korea in June 2017, the new payment system works with a handful of LG devices, and although it hasn’t received a wide international launch yet, things may change in the future. Here’s everything you need to know about LG Pay.

LG Pay Launch dates

LG Pay launched in South Korea at the beginning of June, and was available in the LG G6 smartphone at the time, after a software update added functionality. What about an international launch? After all, Samsung and Apple’s mobile pay systems work in many countries around the world. LG’s mobile communications director Cho Jun-ho was quoted in early July as saying that it intends to improve the service’s convenience, and, “expand the scope of countries, payment methods, as well as devices” that support LG Pay.

While no specific regions are mentioned, to increase LG Pay’s user base, it will no doubt be investigating the U.S., Europe, and other regions in Asia. Any international launch date may not be known by LG yet anyway, as it must strike deals with banks and credit card firms first, which are often lengthy processes.

It has taken a while for LG Pay to become a reality. Rumors began in the lead-up to MWC 2016, and continued throughout the year, before the service’s eventual announcement in 2017.

What devices and cards work with LG Pay?

LG Pay works with the LG G6 and the LG G6 Plus, but other devices will follow in the future. LG’s Cho Jun-ho said in July that low-cost LG phones would be equipped with LG Pay in 2018, along with other high-end LG phones. The LG V30, rumored for announcement before the end of 2017, may also support the service. Additionally, LG Pay may expand to work online, too.

Because LG Pay only operates in South Korea at the moment, it doesn’t support credit cards or banks outside the country. At the time of writing it works with Shinhan, KB Kookmin, BC, and Lotte cards only, but there are plans for all South Korean credit cards to work with LG Pay before the end of 2017. It can register up to 10 cards, and also manages membership cards.

How does it work?

Unlike Samsung Pay, LG Pay uses a Wireless Magnetic Communication (WMC) system to authenticate payments, which are confirmed on the device with the fingerprint scanner. The system, created by a company named Dynamics Inc., allows an LG phone to read and save any standard card with a magnetic stripe, and then send that information to the majority of payment terminals used by shops around the world.

Samsung uses a technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) for Samsung Pay, while Apple uses NFC technology for Apple Pay.

LG Pay will also become a smart credit card?

LG Pay is a mobile payment solution at the moment, and although there’s nothing official yet, rumors have spread a physical LG Pay card may arrive in the future. Back in November 2015, ET News reported that LG’s plan for LG Pay would be a White Card similar to Plastc or the Coin card. In other words, it would be a plastic card similar to a credit card, but it would store several credit cards and possibly connect to an app on your phone.

In late January 2016, the same site leaked images of the said card along with unconfirmed claims. ET News is reporting that the card is about the same size as a credit card, but it’s slightly thicker. Users will be able to store information for several credit cards and cycle through them using the LCD display and navigation controls. The card can also be locked so no one else can access the stored information.

Supposedly users would supposedly be able to use the White Card in ATM machines as well. The White Card may also include metal pins for charging, and a charging accessory is rumored to ship with it. The images show what appears to be a battery life indicator on the LCD display of the White Card. According to a representative of one of LG Pay’s partners, transactions won’t go through LG’s servers, so they are still controlled by the credit card companies. This means that banks are more likely to partner with LG Pay.

Allegedly, the White Card will come with a magnetic stripe at the back when launched, so it won’t work with chip readers. However, sources indicate that chip support will arrive at a later date. Whether the physical card was a test platform for LG Pay, an abandoned initial plan, or a product that will come in the future, isn’t clear.

 Update: We’ve rewritten the guide to reflect the launch of LG Pay, and added rumors the service may arrive internationally in the future.