Google Wallet app is now available to all customers since Monday, July 18, 2022. Google announced Wallet’s comeback at its Google I/O event in May 2022 to create a dedicated platform for payment cards, airplane tickets, government IDs, proof for your vaccination card, and car keys.
Currently, Google Wallet is available in 39 countries, where it will be replacing the current Google pay app via automatic update. But in the case of the United States, Singapore and India, these countries won’t be able to rely solely just on the Google Wallet app.
Rather, the previously mentioned countries will have to use Google Pay to send money to a friend. Of course, those in other parts of the world can rely on this Wallet.
Why Google Wallet?
Digital wallets are convenient to use in certain cases and safer than traditional wallets. In tandem with this, Wallet combines payments with the ability to save vaccine cards, transit and event tickets, gift cards, and boarding and loyalty passes which greatly reduces your risk and the hassle of carrying it in person.
Google Wallet is a digital payment system that acts as a virtual wallet, allowing users to make payments and transfer money straight from their portable devices. It can store credit, debit, gift, and loyalty card information, and the service is free for all users.
Is It Secure?
A digital wallet is a fast, secure way to pay with your phone or to store cards, ticket passes, keys, and IDs.
Android security features like facial recognition or password support Google Wallet. Users can also control the accessibility of stored or transmitted data, which is protected with encryption.
Suppose you choose to connect it to other applications. In that case, you can receive data relevant to activities or events you might be attending, like your flight changes, availability of sufficient funds for the trip or event, etc.
Google Pay or Google Wallet?
Since Google already launched Google Wallet with the same name back in 2011, which merged with Google Pay, it can confuse some users.
Where the majority will have an automatic update in the Google Pay app, in the U.S. and Singapore, Wallet will be available for download as an independent app and will continue to exist side by side with the Google Pay app.
Indian users, in turn, will continue to enjoy the current Google Pay app with which they are familiar.
How to Download?
The new Google Wallet app is now available to download from the Google Play Store. Get the update or find it via Google’s tweet.
Google requires users to have Android 5.2 or later, and users shall possess a valid Google account. You can then begin adding your different cards, but if you already have a card connected to the Google Play Store or YouTube, your card should be loaded automatically.
Google Wallet gives users a refined interface and one-swipe access to their payment cards, loyalty and membership cards, and more.
Google claims to give an easy contactless payment from your Android phone for which when you’re ready to pay, you first unlock your phone, hold it near the reader and look for the checkmark to know if your payment has been accepted.
