Apple Pay might launch on Oct. 20 alongside iOS 8.1

Get those credit card numbers ready as Apple Pay appears to be getting ever-closer to launching. Apple’s new mobile payment system is going to arrive on Monday, Oct. 20 as part of the iOS 8.1 update, according to Bank Innovation.

Earlier this week, 9to5Mac noted that Apple was changing its iOS numbering scheme. This was confirmed just hours later when Apple released the first iOS 8.1 beta to developers. Apple usually releases iOS x.1 updates in the spring. It now looks like iOS 8.1, iOS 8.2, and iOS 8.3 are already in the pipeline.

Apple Pay settings are found in the iOS 8.1 beta, although they are hidden from view.

Bank Innovation notes:

We reported earlier that developers were worried that they wouldn’t be able to test out Apple Pay before the public release, since many merchants who have spoken anonymously to Bank Innovation are expecting massive Apple Pay volume from Day 1. (That being said, experts in the financial services industry aren’t as optimistic — many expect that Apple Pay “will be the next Siri.”)

First announced last month, Apple Pay will work with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple Watch. On ABC News, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that his company’s new service could put a “dagger” in traditional credit cards.

Apple Pay supports credit and debit cards from the three major payment networks, American Express, MasterCard and Visa, issued by Bank of America, Capital One Bank, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo. Discover is expected to join the lineup too.

Also in October, Apple is likely to announce the “iPad Air 2″ and “iPad mini with Retina display 2,” along with OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

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