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Google Wallet is officially available in India after being tested with a limited number of people last month. The Wallet app isn’t replacing Google Pay; it aims to provide a new avenue for digital payments and information management for Indian users.
From storing boarding passes, gift cards, and loyalty cards to accessing transit OTAs and even using the Android phone as a corporate badge, Google Wallet aims to centralise various aspects of daily life into a single, convenient platform — much like Digilocker.
Google Pixel devices sold in India will come preloaded with the Google Wallet app, offering easy integration. Additionally, users can add Google Wallet as a lock screen shortcut for quick access and enhanced experience.
“Google Pay is not going anywhere. Google Pay is our primary payments use case,” Ram Papatla, general manager and India engineering lead for Android at Google, said at a press conference in New Delhi. “Wallet is specifically tailored for thinking about the non-payment use cases.”
However, amidst the excitement of the launch, Google clarified that Google Wallet would not extend to wearables in India, limiting access to stored data exclusivity through smartphones.
The most notable aspect of Google’s announcement is the coexistence of Google Wallet and Google Pay in India. While Google Wallet focuses on digital access and information storage, Google Pay remains the primary payment platform in the country.
Google Pay supports payment-related functionalities such as adding cards and NFC payments, which are unavailable through Google Wallet.
This dual-app approach adds to the long-standing confusion within Google’s ecosystem. Over the years, Google has navigated through various iterations of payment apps, including Google Wallet, Android Pay, and Google Pay (Tez), which has led to overlapping functionality and brand complexities.
Google Wallet will partner with 20 brands, including PVR, Inox, Flipkart, Air India, MakeMyTrip, Pine Labs, and Ixigo. The company also works with local transport operators such as Kochi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, and Abhibus. Furthermore, system integrator companies like Wavelynx and Alert Enterprises have onboarded Google Wallet to allow users to store corporate badges on the platform, reported TechCrunch.
On February 23, 2024, Google discontinued Google Pay in the United States and asked users to migrate to Google Wallet by June 4.
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