music from the iTunes Store, but Apple had to
abandon the project because it struggled to
negotiate the terms it sought from Mastercard,
its proposed partner.
Nonetheless, Apple has partnered with
Barclaycard for a credit card that could gain
the user Apple-centric rewards, although the
Barclaycard Visa has since ceased to offer
these rewards. Furthermore, with the Apple
Card, Tim Cook’s Apple has succeeded where
Steve Jobs’ Apple failed: by forging a solid
partnership with Mastercard. This was to make
the physical Apple Card possible – and given
Mastercard’s global ubiquity, the Apple Card
should be accepted wherever Mastercard
is supported.