Google Introducesâ Digital âWallet âin India, Complementingâ Google âPay
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 âPay 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 â¤designed âto cater âto non-payment useâ cases. Indian⢠Androidâ users can now storeâ and â˘access various items⢠such as:
- Boarding passes
- Gift cards
- Event tickets
- Loyalty passes
These items can be added âto the âwallet through QR codes, barcodes, or links shared via Gmail,â or â˘by using âa dedicated “Add to Google âWallet” button available on partner apps. The app also allows users to store transit tickets and create âpasses fromâ images⤠containing âbarcodes or QR codes, such as airline boarding passes,â luggage tags,⢠or parking⢠receipts.
Partnerships andâ Integrations
Google âWallet has partnered with 20 âŁbrands 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, âGoogleâ has partnered with system integrators Wavelynx and â Alert Enterprise â to enable users to store and access their corporate badges.
Android’sâ Dominance in India
With a staggering 93% market share, Android â˘continues to reign supreme in India’s smartphone market. According to the latest â˘data from Counterpoint, out of âthe 152 million smartphones shipped in theâ country in 2023, 140 âmillion were powered by Android. The â¤smartphone penetration rate⢠also⢠increased from 66% in 2021 to 70% in 2023, further solidifying âGoogle’s decision to launch its digital wallet âin India.
Competition in the Digital Wallet Space
Despite the promising prospects, Google Wallet will face competitionâ from established players in the Indian market. Samsung Wallet, for instance, offers â¤a comprehensive digital âwallet⤠and payments⣠app for⢠Samsung device users. Apple’s Wallet app is alsoâ available for iPhone users in India,⢠although it currently âŁlacks âŁextensive⣠local⢠integrations. Furthermore, the popular instant messaging app â¤WhatsApp provides users⣠with the ability to obtain virtual⣠boarding â¤passesâ and transit tickets from platforms like MakeMyTrip and state⢠metro âtrain operators.
“Google Pay is not going anywhere. Google Pay is our primary payments use âcase.â Wallet is specifically tailored for thinkingâ about the non-payment use cases.”
-â Ram⣠Papatla, General Manager and India âŁEngineering Lead for Android at Google
As Google âWallet enters the Indian market, it aims to complement the existing âGoogle Pay âapp by focusing on non-payment use cases, offering â˘users a convenient way⤠to storeâ and access various digital â¤items. With its extensive partnerships⤠and the dominance of Android in India, Google⢠is âwell-positioned to make a significant impact in the country’s digital wallet landscape.
4 Comments
A bold move by Google, but will it beat the good ol’ cash in India? Exciting times!
Oh great, just what we needed, another way for Google to watch our every move. Let’s see how this plays out!
Finally, no more bulky wallets at festivals, just hope your phone’s battery lasts!
Ah, modern convenience meets the dreaded dead phone scenario, delightful irony!