Google Wallet Launches in India: Easy, Secure Mobile Payments

Google Introduces‌ Digital ‍Wallet ‍in India, Complementing​ Google ‍Pay

Google has unveiled its google-wallet-launches-in-india-with-local-features-pay-to-remain/” title=”Google Wallet Launches in India with Local Features, Pay to Remain”>digital wallet platform in India, nearly two years after its relaunch in the United States. The app, named Google Wallet, will function alongside⁢ the existing Google ‍Pay app, which will continue to serve as the company’s primary payments solution in the⁤ country.

Google Wallet: A Hub for Non-Payment Use Cases

While Google Pay remains the⁢ go-to app for digital transactions, Google Wallet is ⁤designed ‍to cater ​to non-payment use​ cases. Indian⁢ Android​ users can now store‍ and ⁢access various items⁢ such as:

• Boarding passes
• Gift cards
• Event tickets
• Loyalty passes

These items can be added ‍to the ‍wallet through QR codes, barcodes, or links shared via Gmail,‌ or ⁢by using ​a dedicated “Add to Google ‍Wallet” button available on partner apps. The app also allows users to store transit tickets and create ​passes from​ images⁤ containing ‍barcodes or QR codes, such as airline boarding passes,​ luggage tags,⁢ or parking⁢ receipts.

Partnerships and​ Integrations

Google ​Wallet has partnered with 20 ⁣brands in India, including popular names like PVR Inox, Flipkart, Air India, MakeMyTrip, Pine Labs, and Ixigo. The company has also collaborated with local transport operators, such as Kochi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, VRL Travels, and Abhibus. Additionally, ​Google‌ has partnered with system integrators Wavelynx and ​ Alert Enterprise ‌ to enable users to store and access their corporate badges.

Android’s‍ Dominance in India

With a staggering 93% market share, Android ⁢continues to reign supreme in India’s smartphone market. According to the latest ⁢data from Counterpoint, out of ​the 152 million smartphones shipped in the‍ country in 2023, 140 ‍million were powered by Android. The ⁤smartphone penetration rate⁢ also⁢ increased from 66% in 2021 to 70% in 2023, further solidifying ‍Google’s decision to launch its digital wallet ‌in India.

Competition in the Digital Wallet Space

Despite the promising prospects, Google Wallet will face competition‍ from established players in the Indian market. Samsung Wallet, for instance, offers ⁤a comprehensive digital ‌wallet⁤ and payments⁣ app for⁢ Samsung device users. Apple’s Wallet app is also‍ available for iPhone users in India,⁢ although it currently ⁣lacks ⁣extensive⁣ local⁢ integrations. Furthermore, the popular instant messaging app ⁤WhatsApp provides users⁣ with the ability to obtain virtual⁣ boarding ⁤passes​ and transit tickets from platforms like MakeMyTrip and state⁢ metro ‍train operators.

“Google Pay is not going anywhere. Google Pay is our primary payments use ‌case.‍ Wallet is specifically tailored for thinking​ about the non-payment use cases.”

-‌ Ram⁣ Papatla, General Manager and India ⁣Engineering Lead for Android at Google

As Google ‌Wallet enters the Indian market, it aims to complement the existing ‌Google Pay ‌app by focusing on non-payment use cases, offering ⁢users a convenient way⁤ to store‍ and access various digital ⁤items. With its extensive partnerships⁤ and the dominance of Android in India, Google⁢ is ​well-positioned to make a significant impact in the country’s digital wallet landscape.