Google has just launched its latest payment platform called the Android Pay. The new payment system will become available to smartphone users with Android OS, and is said to level with both Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.
Android Pay works with devices run in at least Android KitKat 4.4. It works similarly like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay in the sense of allowing users to make payments at point-of-sale using NFC technology on their mobile devices. As noted by Engadget, it currently supports different credit and debit cards, like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, from banks such Bank of America, US Bank, and PNC.
This new payment method is expected to be accepted in establishments like McDonald's,Toys R Us, Subway, and other participating businesses within the US. However, Google is still expecting to have more partners that would accept Android Pay as a valid payment method.
According to Tech Crunch, existing Google Wallet users can expect an update in order to use Android Pay. New users, on the other hand can download on the app directly from Google Play. The new payment system will also come out pre-installed on NFC-enabled smartphones offered by network carriers.
Mashable reports that the company is still planning to re-launch Google Wallet with exclusively for peer-to-peer payments. For those who prefer this app over the new Android Pay, it will be like having two different Wallet apps sitting right next to each other on the user's phone.
Overall, the launch of Android Pay brings some new features over the present Google Pay service. The app itself seems to provide a more practical way to make wireless payments. In the meantime, Google continues to explore and come up with new ideas in order to deliver satisfying services to the consumers, provide better solutions with its business partners, as well as do better than their market rivals.
Join the Conversation