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Google Launches Google Pay

Google Launches Google Pay Image Credit: Google

Google yesterday unveiled the Android Pay, its latest mobile wallet at the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. Android Pay which evolves from its predecessor, the Google Wallet, is a payment solution that is native to the Android Operating System, enabling devices with the OS to now offer the application. According to Google, Android Pay will be first made available to Android users (running KitKat or higher) in the US within a few months from now. 

The Android Pay which can be used in about 700,000 stores in the US also integrates into more than 1000 mobile commerce apps such as Lyft, Domino's, Groupon and Etsy, allowing users to make payments via their phones both for online transactions as well as at brick-and-mortar retail locations. It also allows other features for online commerce, including automatic updates to customer's status in store loyalty programs.

Google is also partnering with all major credit card firms such as Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express to allow debit, credit, prepaid and small-business card holders to use their Android phones for everyday purchases in-store and within Android apps. Google also negotiated partnerships with the three major U.S. cellular carriers: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to pre-install Android Pay on devices they sell running Android 4.4 KitKat or later, with NFC built in.

The Android Pay will take mobile payments and mobile commerce facilitation a notch higher when it implements fingerprint sensors in the next version of the Android OS, the Android M. According to the company, some phones such as Motorola's Atrix, Samsung's Galaxy S5, S6, and Note 4 smartphones are already shipped out with these sensors.

Ed McLaughlin, Chief Emerging Payments Officer, MasterCard
Mobile payments are here today, and are now an essential part of the core value proposition for new devices. With the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) and Android Pay, we can now use secure tokens to easily enable payments from a consumer’s connected device. Today’s news extends consumer choice and drives further ubiquity of payments on devices.

Pali Bhat, Director, Product Management, Google
Mobile payments is big a priority for Google, so we've been working with major networks like MasterCard to help provide a seamless experience across a wide range of phones and stores. Android Pay will offer people further simplicity, security and choice when paying for things with their Android phones.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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