Here Comes Google Pay

Here Comes Google Pay

Google announced today that it has started rolling out Google Pay, its replacement for Android Pay. This starts, naturally enough, on Android, but Google says it is bringing the new payment solution to all of its products.

“Whether you’re shopping on Chrome or with your Assistant, you’ll have a consistent checkout experience using the cards saved to your Google Account,” the Google announcement notes. “We’re also working with partners online and in stores, so you’ll see Google Pay on sites, in apps, and at your favorite places around the world.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This isn’t just a rebranding, though it will look like one on Android, where Android Pay will be replaced by the new app. Also, Google Wallet will become Google Pay Send, a feature inside of the one Google Pay app. (That is happening later in 2018; for now Google Play Send will be its own app.) Google Pay—or “G Pay” as some will try to call it—is becoming a hub for all things related to Google and payments.

Anyway, be on the lookout for the update. I’m not seeing it yet across the various devices I have, but it looks like the release is imminent.

d

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 12 comments

  • JacobTheDev

    Premium Member
    20 February, 2018 - 12:05 pm

    <p>I'm excited about this, it shows that Google is actually using some common sense and simplifying their product offerings. Hopefully they'll follow suit with their messaging apps.</p>

  • thalter

    Premium Member
    20 February, 2018 - 12:17 pm

    <p>Paul: It is ironic that you post this on the same day you lament about the feature bloat in Windows in your "Tyranny of Choice" article. This really illustrates the differences in approach between Google and Microsoft with regards to platform hygiene.</p>

    • jrickel96

      20 February, 2018 - 3:21 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#247191"><em>In reply to thalter:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't think Google thinks about platform hygiene much. Android is a mess. The surface looks better than the innards. Google Play Store is a dumpster fire. But this doesn't matter to Google. Google cares only about gathering data. That's how they make money. That's what this is about. Logged purchases allow for more data to be gathered. </p>

  • Bats

    20 February, 2018 - 12:46 pm

    <p>I love paying by phone. I pretty much do it all the time now. It's fun, convenient, and you get a lot of strange looks from people after you do so. They have this "Wow…what did you just do?" look.&nbsp;</p><p>This past Christmas season, Google had a "Collect the Justice League" thing going on with Android Pay. After you finalize a purchase on your phone using the App, you "collect" a member of the Justice League. It was late in the season and I know the promo was soon to be over and I was just missing Superman to add to my collection. Then, at the mall, when I paid for something…BAM….Superman! Finally! I had a big smile on my face when it happened. It was so big, people waiting in line at the cash register, gave me that "What the heck are you smiling for?" look.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>That's just the phone part, which I normally use for paying stuff. However, if I really want to show off, I use my Android Wear Watch. After watching so many travel vlogs on Youtube and seeing so many vloggers (like Kane and Pia) use their Apple Watch to pay for stuff, I decided to do the same thing, but with my Android smart watch. I used it for&nbsp;a business lunch once, when I forgot to get the company corporate card. LOL…after I paid for the lunch and amazed everybody, we stayed an hour longer at the restaurant, because of all the tech questions they were asking me as well as my "evangelizing."</p><p>Anyway,…I am glad this is happening. I have money in my Google Wallet. So I guess that's all coming together.&nbsp;</p><p>So far….so far, everytime I see the Apple Pay logo on store window, they have always accepted Android Pay, as well.&nbsp;</p>

  • Nicholas Kathrein

    20 February, 2018 - 12:47 pm

    <p>Two tabs is great. One for Android pay and one for Google wallet and it's one app instead of two. I think it's a great idea. Lets hope this forms Googles one true payment system that works everywhere, branded the same everywhere, and a payment options on the web.</p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    20 February, 2018 - 2:18 pm

    <p>Thanks for the heads up Paul this looks like a good update will be following closely</p>

  • Stooks

    20 February, 2018 - 3:07 pm

    <p>Typical Google solution confusion. Android Pay, Google Wallet and now Google Pay.</p><p><br></p><p>Now they need to clean up their message app confusion, Android messenger, Hangouts, Allo, Duo. Then Gmail/Inbox. Finally the YouTube, YouTube Red, YouTube Music, YouTube gaming, Youtube TV, Google Play video mess.</p><p><br></p><p>Customs LOVE all the choices….but just can't figure out which one to pick.</p>

  • Albatross

    20 February, 2018 - 3:15 pm

    <p>The app is still named Android Pay in my apps list, but if I open it the branding is all Google Pay. Maybe a two-step transition?</p>

    • Stooks

      21 February, 2018 - 5:15 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#247251"><em>In reply to Albatross:</em></a></blockquote><p>That is funny to be honest. Google chasing away customers with their confusing offerings.</p>

  • jrickel96

    20 February, 2018 - 3:19 pm

    <p>We'll see if they can fix the issues that exist from device to device. I always had problems with Android working on my Nexus and have seen issues on other Android devices. Vendors I've spoken to that take Apple Pay and Android pay have said there's a really high transaction failure rate on Android Pay. So there's a lot to fix. </p><p><br></p><p>I've got a feeling this will hardly make a dent compared to what Apple has done. Android users are not very likely to try new things or want to store payment data on their phones. I've seen that in analytics data I get from apps installed. iPhone users are much more likely to spend money or try something new on the tech side. </p><p><br></p><p>And how many Android handsets will have NFC? Most Android phones are cheap, so they are not feature rich. </p>

  • bleeman

    Premium Member
    21 February, 2018 - 12:37 am

    <p>I've been using Samsung Pay for over a year now, since I purchased the Galaxy Note 5 and now use it on my Note 8. I've had no problems with it, and have been at several locations where they said they don't have phone support but it has worked without issue. Overall, it has been a very positive experience. I haven't bothered to look at Android Pay as Samsung Pay has been doing so well.</p>

  • dcdevito

    21 February, 2018 - 6:58 am

    <p>Google W̶a̶l̶l̶e̶t̶ + A̶n̶d̶r̶o̶i̶d̶ Pay = Google Pay</p><p>Got it</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC