Google Wallet
Google Wallet icon.svg
Developer(s)Google
Operating system
TypeMobile app
Websitewallet.google Edit this on Wikidata

Google Wallet is a digital wallet platform developed by Google. It is available for the Android and Wear OS operating systems, and was announced on May 11, 2022, at the 2022 Google I/O keynote. It will co-exist with the 2020 Google Pay app, while replacing the 2018 one on Android smartphones.

History

The "Google Wallet" brand name was first used for the company's mobile payment system of the same name, which was introduced in 2011 before being merged with Android Pay into a new app called Google Pay in 2018.[1][2] The old Wallet app, with its functionality reduced to a peer-to-peer payments service, was rebranded Google Pay Send before it was discontinued as well in 2020.[3] In 2020, the Google Pay app underwent an extensive redesign based on Google's India-focused Tez app, expanding into an all-encompassing personal finance app.[4] This replaced the Tez app on the Play Store, while the 2018 Google Pay app continued to co-exist as a separate, pre-installed app on Android smartphones.[5][6]

In January 2022, Bloomberg News reported that the company was planning to transform Google Pay into a "comprehensive digital wallet",[7] following the app's reported slow growth and the shutdown of Plex.[8][9] In April, it was reported that Google was planning to revive the "Google Wallet" branding in a new app or interface, and integrated with Google Pay.[10][11] Google officially announced Google Wallet on May 11, 2022, at the 2022 Google I/O keynote.[12] The app will co-exist with the 2020 Google Pay app.[6]

Features

Google Wallet allows users to store items such as credit cards, loyalty cards, digital identification cards, transit passes, concert tickets, and vaccination cards.[13] It will replace the old, pre-installed Google Pay app on Android devices and will be available in 42 countries at launch.[6]

Unlike similar mobile wallets such as Apple Wallet, Google Wallet only features passes on the smartphone version of the app for Android. The smartwatch version for Wear OS will only support payment cards at launch.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Warren, Christina (May 26, 2011). "Google Reveals Mobile Payment System: Google Wallet". Mashable. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  2. ^ Nieva, Richard; Bennett, Brian (January 8, 2018). "Google merges payment platforms under Google Pay brand". CNET. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Vonau, Manuel (June 30, 2020). "Google Pay Send mysteriously returns to Contacts, but is still unavailable in Assistant, Gmail, and Messages". Android Police. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Bohn, Dieter (November 18, 2020). "Google Pay's massive relaunch makes it an all-encompassing money app". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. ^ Romero, Andrew (March 11, 2022). "The difference between GPay and Google Pay – Which one should you use?". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Li, Abner (May 11, 2022). "Google Wallet wants to replace your physical wallet (and the old Google Pay app)". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  7. ^ Bergen, Mark (January 19, 2022). "Google Hires PayPal Vet to Reset Strategy After Its Banking Retreat". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  8. ^ Langely, Hugh (August 20, 2021). "Google's payments team is seeing an exodus of executives and employees. Some say they're frustrated with the slow pace of progress". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Rudegeair, Peter; Benoit, David; Ackerman, Andrew (October 1, 2021). "Google Is Scrapping Its Plan to Offer Bank Accounts to Users". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Li, Abner (April 11, 2022). "This is Google's new 'Wallet' icon – here's how it might fit in with Pay". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Clark, Mitchell (April 18, 2022). "Google Wallet may be making a return". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Clark, Mitchell (May 11, 2022). "Google thinks the time is right to bring back Wallet". The Verge. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (May 11, 2022). "Google launches Google Wallet to help you store your credit cards, tickets and more". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "Google Pay becomes Google Wallet (again) in global rebranding with expanded digital item support". Android Police. May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

External links

Google
Android
Mobile payment software
Categories