Google on Wednesday launched its digital pockets in India with native integrations, almost two years after the app was relaunched as a digital pockets platform within the U.S.
As TechCrunch solely reported final month, Google Wallet will function in India alongside the present Google Pay app, which can stay the corporate’s funds app within the nation. Google had changed its Pay app with Wallet within the U.S. in February.
“Google Pay is not going anywhere. Google Pay is our primary payments use case,” Ram Papatla, basic supervisor and India engineering lead for Android at Google, mentioned at a press convention in New Delhi. “Wallet is specifically tailored for thinking about the non-payment use cases.”
Google Wallet will let Android customers in India retailer and entry their boarding passes, present playing cards, occasion tickets, and loyalty passes. You can add all of this by a QR code, barcode or hyperlink shared by Gmail, or through the use of a devoted Add to Google Wallet button obtainable on accomplice apps.
The app will even retailer transit tickets and allow you to create passes from any pictures containing a barcode or QR code, similar to airline boarding passes, baggage tags or parking receipts.
Initially, Google Wallet will work with 20 manufacturers, together with PVR Inox, Flipkart, Air India, MakeMyTrip, Pine Labs and Ixigo. It has additionally onboarded native transport operators similar to Kochi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, VRL Travels and Abhibus. Additionally, the corporate has partnered with system integrators Wavelynx and Alert Enterprise to let customers retailer and entry their company badges.
Android continues to dominate the smartphone market in India, with a 93% market share, per newest Counterpoint information shared with TechCrunch. In 2023, out of the 152 million smartphones shipped within the nation, 140 million ran Android. Smartphone penetration price for the 12 months was 70%, up from 66% in 2021, the market analysis agency mentioned.
All this offers Google a strong motive to launch Wallet in India. However, it could face competitors from Samsung Wallet, which the South Korean firm provides as a one-stop digital pockets and funds app. Apple additionally has its Wallet app for iPhone customers within the nation, although that app doesn’t have many native integrations. Instant messaging app WhatsApp additionally gives the power to get digital boarding passes and transit tickets from platforms like MakeMyTrip and state metro practice operators.
