Dive Brief:

• During the company's highly-anticipated "Spring Forward" event Monday, Apple CEO Tim Cook offered an update on new Apple Pay numbers and unveiled a new MacBook, the Apple Watch, and a new streaming service, HBO Now.
• Most pertinent to retailers, Cook said that Apple Pay is now accepted at nearly 700,000 locations (which includes 40,000 Coca-Cola venting machines), and is supported by 2,500 card-issuing banks. 
• The event started with a global tour of Apple's retail stores, and the announcement that Apple will be expanding in China with plans to increase its number of stores in the country from 21 to 40 by mid 2016. 

Dive Insight:

While Apple's new products undoubtedly stole the show at this event, the announcement of Apple Pay's rapid expansion is particularly important for retailers, perhaps helped in part by the rapid expansion of Near Field Technology in stores. As more mobile payment systems continue to infiltrate the space, the race is on to see which one will garner wide adoption with retailers.