Where can I use Android Pay?
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Apple Pay is available across a wide range of eating out and grab and go establishments, including Costa, Nando’s and McDonalds. But Barclays was also slow to embrace Apple Pay, which has been available in the United Kingdom.
Android Pay can be used on the tube, buses, trams, most national rail services, cable auto and Thames Clipper river bus services.
Until now, the facility had only been available in the US. Even here in the UK, Apple Pay is in use and active in most places from McDonald’s to cornershops.
Google claims its Android Pay business has been growing steadily in the U.S. with 1.5 million new registrations each month.
Google’s Android Pay mobile payment system has launched in the United Kingdom, enabling users to make purchases using their smartphone. “We’re bringing together payment networks, banks and retailers to help you pay simply and securely”.
It’s finally happened. After months of waiting and rumours, Android Pay has finally touched down in the United Kingdom, and it comes with support from several banks – and even the Tfl. Google also stated it would be launching the service in the United Kingdom “in the coming months” back in March. “Starbucks UK and Deliveroo will be among the first to reward Android Pay users in the UK”, Bhat continues. The only downside to all this is that it took Google so long to get the service live in the UK. With a well-established contactless payment system, Android Pay will be widely supported at most locations with over half a million on the list.
Earlier this year Google launched a public trial – in Silicon Valley, of course – for a system called Hands Free, which will allow you to make payments by just saying “pay with Google”.
Just Open up the Settings app, scroll down to About Phone and then hit Software Information.
Google has also announced that Android Pay will soon be launched in Australia and Singapore and in many more nations. In January Transport for London recorded 3.2m journeys using mobile devices in six months from July, but Apple has yet to release numbers related to Apple Pay transactions.
How secure is Android Pay?
It will actually work with a lot.
Android Pay works with all NFC-enabled Android devices running KitKat 4.4 and above.
A free Android Pay app connects and sets up the system, which can be linked to any account using Visa or MasterCard.
How Does Android Pay Work?
Lost or stolen phones can be located, locked and wiped remotely through Android Device Manager.
MasterCard and Visa have both signed up for Android Pay. Within seconds the transaction is complete. Naturally you can pay for larger, more expensive things too, but you’ll then need to authenticate your payment using your passcode or if your device supports it, a fingerprint.
For purchases under £30, the phone simply needs to be awake and tapped on to the contactless reader. There are also 332,607 bank-owned contactless payment terminals across the UK, according to the UK Cards Association.
Launch partner banks include First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, Bank of Scotland and Nationwide Building Society (LSE: CCDS.L – news), while Natwest and Santander customers among others will have to wait.
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It seems to be-but it’s not as secure as Apple Pay. Instead a unique virtual account number is assigned to each payment method and encrypted in your phone.
