iPhone7 Enables Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Classic Might be Next

 Just days after Apple issued a directive to Jaxx CEO Anthony Di Iorio to remove Dash from its iOS app, the creators of the universal Blockchain wallet announced the integration of Ethereum Classic (ETC) into its suite of software wallets on seven different platforms.The announcement comes as Apple made its September keynote where the iPhone 7 was unveiled. In the new version of the phone, one of the third-party apps for its iMessage feature will include Circle, the peer-to-peer payments technology company utilizing Bitcoin and traditional fiat currencies.

Circle integration

Circle uses Bitcoin as a payments rail. This is likely to enhance the sending of money to some parts of the world, including its recent market in China using Apple's messaging system as a carrier.For Circle adding payments to iMessage reduces “the friction,” for consumers, says CEO Jeremy Allaire.He adds:

“There’s a hurdle to have to install a smartphone app so that I can pay my buddy and all the inputting and set up. To do it all within the iMessages app is a lot easier.”

Though Apple has not yet revealed whether it will support ETC, the continuing chain of the original Ethereum, Jaxx says it has submitted an updated version of its app to the iOS App Store and hopes that it will be approved in the next few days.Di Iorio noted in a release that Jaxx will be forced to remove Dash from the iOS versions of its wallet on September 14, 2016. Since the hard forked version of Ethereum has already been approved by Apple, they hope that “Apple will allow the addition of Ethereum Classic, especially given its wide array of developer support and steadily growing popularity.”In last week’s Apple-issued directive, six tokens were identified as supported: Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, the DAO and Ripple.The integration will make ETC, being the sixth most valuable Blockchain token by market cap valued at $124 million, be available on seven of the nine platforms Jaxx supports with approval pending on the iOS App Store for iPhone and iPad users.