Apple Pay lands in Switzerland

Apple Pay is spreading further around the globe.

The mobile payment system is launching in Switzerland on Thursday, the company announced. Outside of the UK, it's the first European location in which the service has launched.

Already available in the US, Canada, Australia, China and Singapore, this is good news for travellers, who can use the convenient service in a growing list of countries.

Apple Pay lets iPhone and Apple Watch users make payments by passing an Apple device over any contactless payment terminal. Card details are encrypted on the phone and authentication is provided by the user's fingerprint (or, in the case of the Apple Watch, by sensing contact with the user's skin).