Apple chief Tim Cook said the Apple Pay system would replace an "antiquated payment process" with "an entirely new payment system" that allows consumers to touch their phones to retail terminals.
The new payment system will be built into the new iPhones and Apple's operating system which were also unveiled Thursday.
(Also see: Apple Launches iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus)
Cook said that each day in the United States alone "that's 200 million times that we scramble through our credit cards and go through what is a fairly antiquated payment process."
(In comparison: iPhone 6 Plus versus iPhone 6 versus iPhone 5s versus iPhone 5c)
He said other efforts have failed because the companies introducing mobile wallets were working on the basis of "their self-interest" instead of the user experience.
Cook showed a video of a consumer tapping a phone on a payment terminal, commenting, "it's so cool."
(Also see: Apple Watch Unveiled as 'Comprehensive Health and Fitness Companion')
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