Image used with permission by copyright holderGoogle’s paying (pun intended) mobile payments an outsized amount of attention these days. Following the U.K. rollout of Android Pay, its first international expansion, the Mountain View company on Wednesday introduced a bevy of new developer tools and user features to the burgeoning platform.
During a session part at its ongoing 2016 I/O developer conference, Pali Bhat, senior director of product management for Android Pay, demonstrated one of the service’s most appreciable additions: ATM cash withdrawals. Beginning today with Bank of America users who’ve associated a debit card with their Android Pay accounts can tap an NFC-compatible ATM with their Android Pay-enabled smartphone to take out cash — just as they would with a physical debit card. Functionality will at first be limited to a little over 600 ATMs in San Francisco and the Bay Area, but Bank of America hopes to expand that number to 2,400 machines by the end of May and 5,000 by 2017.
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Android Pay is gaining another useful user feature: loyalty card payments integration. Forgetting to use a rewards card during a transaction’s a common problem among Android Pay users, said Bhat, but the Android Pay team thinks it might have the solution: automated rewards. Bhat demonstrated during the session with Walgreens’ loyalty program, Balance Rewards. Users with an existing account can simply tap a button from an SMS message, email, or push notification, or if need be, get one relatively simply — Android Pay auto-populates the name, address, phone number, and email fields of a program’s sign-up page. Once an account has been associated with Android Pay account, payments at a Walgreen terminal are automatically tied to Balance Rewards discounts and points.
On the backend, Google is making it easier for developers to integrate Android Pay into their apps and services. It’s opened Android Pay’s APIs to merchants of physical goods and services in markets where Android Pay is available, and introduced a new API — Payment Request — aimed at simplifying Web checkout processes. It’s, in a nutshell, a collection of simple tools to help retailers and developers create a “standardized” payments experience across browsers and platforms, which according to Bhan is key to customer retention — Android Pay merchants that have added features like auto-filled checkout fields have seen up to a 25 percent increase in conversions. Initial partners include Booking.com and Shopify, with more to come in the future.
The Payment Request API dovetails with Google’s Android Instant Apps project, a streaming system that allows mobile users to interact with apps without installing them. Developers who support it can integrate Android Pay for single-tap transactions that feel like native, on-phone experiences, Bhan said.
Finally, Google’s added support within Android Pay for third-party payment processors including Stripe, Vantiv, and Braintree that only require developers to write “a few lines” of code to integrate, according to Bhan. For developers using a payments processor that doesn’t support Android Pay, Google’s introducing a self-service API, in addition.
The collective goal of the new features is to reduce the developmental, infrastructural, and geographical barriers to Android Pay, said Bhan. “We believe that mobile payments can make for a better, more secure shopping experience — so we’re in this together for the long haul,” he said. “We’re building a robust Android Pay ecosystem, one that’s open and scalable, to enable developers to drive mobile payments — and their businesses — forward.”
Pixel 3a confirmed to get Android 12L even as Google winds down Pixel 3 support
With the announcement of Android 12L, Google shared a list of Pixel phones expected to receive the beta when it began the testing period in December. While the Pixel 3 was understandably absent, Google also didn't include the newer Pixel 3a -- which was taken as an indication that it was likely not going to get the newer Android version when it rolls out. Fortunately, that's not the case, as Google confirmed to Digital Trends over email that it was an oversight and documentation would be updated shortly.
According to Google, the Android 12L beta will be going out to the following Pixel phones: Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a with 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4a, and Pixel 4. It will not be coming to the Pixel 3, which received its last guaranteed update with Android 12. The Pixel 3's exclusion is a little weird, though. Launched in May of 2019, Google promises updates for up to three years post-launch. As indicated by the company's Pixel software support list, this means the Pixel 3a should expect major updates through May of 2022.
PayPal vs. Google Pay vs. Venmo vs. Cash App vs. Apple Pay Cash
Money makes the world go 'round. Whether you owe a friend for drinks or you need to send rent money to your roommate, the easier it is to transfer money to friends and family, the better.
With modern technology, there are plenty of great options for sending money to others. Sure, PayPal may be the best-known of these services, but it's certainly not the only one. Google reorganized Android Pay and Google Wallet into a single service called Google Pay. Then there's Venmo, which has skyrocketed in popularity, and Cash App, built by payment company Square. Perhaps it was a little late to the game, but we can't forget about Apple Pay Cash.
How to switch to the new Google Pay — and why you need to
Google Pay is one of the most popular mobile payment apps around, used by more than 150 million people in 30 countries every month. Launched in 2018, Google Pay merged two other popular payment apps, Android Pay and Google Wallet, bringing the functionality of both apps into one handy new app that allowed you to pay for stuff as well as make peer-to-peer payments.
On April 5, the old Google Pay app ceased functioning for users in the U.S. and has been replaced by the new app. If you're confused, you're not alone. Perhaps you're wondering how to get the new app and what features it offers, or even why you need to switch? Keep reading and we'll answer all your questions.
What features does the new Google Pay app have?
The new Google Pay app focuses on the businesses and people you interact with most in a more social, modern style -- although the general feedback so far has been that the new style feels somewhat disorganized. Rather than acting as a simple replacement for your credit card or a means to send payments to other people, the new Google Pay aims to be a one-stop shop for all your financial transactions, even your bank account.
