Going head-to-head with Apple Pay, Android Pay turns your Android into your credit card and does so in a much more secure and easier way than existing banking apps do.
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Google is partnering with some companies to offer discounts when you use Android Pay in certain apps such as OpenTable, Lyft, and DoorDash.
In addition to launching in-app payments, the company also announced plans to expand Android Pay to Australia in 2016. If you do not have a Nexus device and use Android Pay, you won’t receive the free e-gift card it seems.
Google may have diverted some of its attention from Google Wallet to the recently launched Android Pay mobile wallet, but that doesn’t mean that Google Wallet is on its last breath.
Speaking of expanding, Google tipped its hand and shared that it’s targeting Australia for Android Pay’s next country.
Google Wallet, the precursor to Android Pay, is widely thought to have failed due to a similar onerous security process.
“No more pulling out your credit card while on-the-go”, writes Pali Bhat, Director of Android Pay.
Android has made two recent strides forward that are huge for app developers: the release of the Marshmallow update and the newly minted Android Studio 2.0. CBA’s mobile wallet requires users to unlock their phone and enter a PIN before tapping.
It works by using the NFC chip in your phone, the same type of chip that your credit card already uses to make contactless payments with.
Are you a developer who wants to add Android Pay to your app? TD Bank just rolled out support.
The local Android Pay deals make Australia the second country behind the U.S. to welcome the mobile payment service. For Android users, Android Pay will be the superior option versus Google Wallet, which is seen as more a peer-to-peer payment system.
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At launch, Google has announced they are partnering with ANZ, Westpac, Bank of Melbourne, Bank of South Australia, Bendigo Bank, Cuscal, ING DIRECT, Macquarie Bank, and St. George.
