Apple has rolled out its Business Chat feature worldwide, bringing you the ability to chat with specific brands from your iPhone and iPad.
The service has been available for a while in the US, but today marks the first time the service has hit more territories including the UK, Australia, Japan, Singapore and several European nations.
You interact with the brands via the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad and it works in the same way as any other iMessage conversation.
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As well as asking questions and inquiring about orders, opening hours and reservations, Business Chat also allows you to make purchases through the message stream.
In the UK, users can chat to energy firm nPower about Smart Meters. You'll reach a real person and you will always be in control of whether you share any contact information with them.
You can launch a chat in the Messages app by visiting the "Contact Us" page on nPower's website on your phone and tapping the "Chat with Messages" button.
New brands on board
As part of the international launch, Apple has confirmed 30 new brands have joined the service, and the full list of companies who are signed up is below.
Apple says more brands will join the service in time, but for now there's no word on who may be lining up an entry.
Europe
- Matchesfashion (UK)
- nPower (UK)
- Robins & Day (UK)
- buddybank (Italy)
- Engie (France)
- La Redoute (France)
- AXA Insurance (Switzerland)
- Swisscom (Switzerland)
- Vodafone Germany
- NH Hotels (Europe)
North America
- 1800 Contacts
- DirecTV Now
- Fairmont Hotels including the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley
- Kimpton Hotels
- Freshly
- Macerich Malls including Scottsdale Fashion Square and Santa Monica Place
- Mall of America
- Men's Wearhouse
- Jos A. Bank
- Overstock.com
- Quicken Loans
- SnapTravel (US, Canada)
- West Elm
- Hendrick Automotive Group
- Four Seasons (Canada) is expanding to 88 properties around the globe, 100+ languages
- Lithia Group
Worldwide
- Burberry
Asia
- Telstra (Australia)
- Harvey Norman (Australia)
- KDDI (Japan)
- Credit Suisse (Singapore and Hong Kong)
