Apple introduced the Apple Pay mobile payment platform in Britain on Tuesday, hoping to attract consumers familiar with using cards for tap-and-go purchases. Starting Tuesday, Apple Pay is set to be available in 250,000 sites, from Tube stations to supermarkets and travel services.

Here is how Apple Pay works. First you have to load your credit and debit card details into an app on yout Apple phones or watch. To pay, you hold the device near a contactless terminal with your fingerprints confirming their identity.

Apple Pay will eventually be supported by all major British banks. Barclays confirmed on Tuesday its debit card users and Barclaycard credit card customers will be able to use Apple Pay in the future. However, HSBC Holdings said it was having technical problems that will lead to a two-week delay before its clients in the United Kingdom can sign up to the service.