14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update will bring support for the Payment Request API, which basically makes it possible for developers to streamline the paying process that their websites offer using technologies integrated into the operating system.
Specifically, the Payment Request API, which is already available in Google Chrome, will allow Edge users to make payments with Microsoft Wallet, an app that’s offered on PCs and smartphones running Windows 10.
Using this new implementation, the payment data is retrieved from Microsoft Wallet, where it is securely stored, so the whole process is streamlined and the process should complete faster.
2017 improvements
Microsoft says that while users would get this new feature in the upcoming Creators Update on Windows 10, insiders can already try it out with preview build 14986, which is available for both the Fast and the Slow rings.
“In Microsoft Edge, the Payment Request API connects to Microsoft Wallet (with the user’s permission), allowing easy access to payment information associated with the user’s Microsoft Account,” Microsoft explains.
“Because payment information is securely saved in a digital wallet, shoppers don’t have to navigate through traditional checkout flows and repeatedly enter the same payment and shipping address information repeatedly. The wallet can provide a faster and more consistent experience across websites, which saves shoppers time and effort by allowing them to securely share saved payment information.”
Microsoft says that while devs and users can already try the new feature in the latest Windows 10 Insider build, end-to-end testing will be implemented in a future build - it’s worth noting that no new builds would be released this year, so expect the next to ship in the first weeks of 2017.
Additionally, Microsoft says that, at first, only US billing and shipping addresses will be supported, but support for additional regions and languages will be added later in 2017.