Google’s second attempt at mobile payment gateway, Android Pay will be hitting the US markets starting today, the company has announced. Android Pay will slowly replace Google’s existing mobile payment gateway, the Google Wallet.
By next week, smartphones running on Android 4.4 and above will receive the launch as an upgrade to Google Wallet. Google Wallet however, will not be shelved completely, at least for now, as the company has reintroduced it as a payment gateway for transactions between friends and family.
Google seems to have taken a tiny feather of inspiration from Apple and Samsung while developing Android Pay. It offers the same payment options followed by the two companies. Android Pay makes use of the NFC technology supported by most retailers around the world. Similar to Apple’s payment gateway, Android Pay relies on tokenization system to secure credit and debit card details. While the transactions are made the tokenization system hides the details from the receiver.
The gateway allows for payments through Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, among others. Participating banks include the Bank of America, US Bank, and PNC. For those with bank accounts in Citi and Wells Fargo, a weeks await lies in the front, as these banks will be included soon. Google Wallet’s special ability to complete transactions with a tap and a check, will no longer function in the Android Pay owing to narrowed security measures.
Google is stepping cautiously and clarified that Android Pay will be functional only for transactions for physical stores.
For those looking forward to use Android Pay for the purchasing apps on Play Store, well time is of the essence, as they will have to wait a while longer until it’s introduced for the platform as well, which unfortunately happens to be at the end of 2015.
Google has already teamed up with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile who will be included Android Pay as default on all smartphones running Android Lollipop and above. For those eager to try it out, don’t go searching on Play Store as it is yet to be made available.
