Google has finally revealed plans to launch Android Pay in Europe, with the Internet giant announcing the U.K. as its launchpad across the Atlantic “in the next few months.”
Google launched its Apple Pay competitor last May, however, it's hitherto been a U.S-only affair. Similar to Apple Pay, Google’s mobile-payment service lets users make purchases in physical retail stores through swiping their NFC-enabled phone against a contactless terminal at the point-of-sale. It can also be used to buy goods in third-party apps, saving you from having to re-enter your payments details in multiple apps. Though Google has previously teased an Australia launch for the first-half of 2016, it's yet to come to fruition — so it’s not yet clear whether the U.K. or Oz will be Android Pay’s second market.
In several ways, Google will be playing catch-up to Apple Pay, which has been available in the U.K. since last summer, though it may still beat Samsung Pay to market, which is currently still only available in the U.S. and South Korea.
While an official launch date has yet to be announced, Google has revealed some of its initial roster of bank partners for launch — Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, and Nationwide Building Society — with “new banks being added all the time,” the company added, meaning there could actually be more than eight banks on board by the time this actually launches. Both Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards will be supported.
Android Pay will work anywhere you normally use your contactless bank card, such as coffee shops, supermarkets, and all the rest. It will also work on London’s transport network, including underground stations and buses. Concerning third-party app integrations, Google has revealed a handful for launch, such as JD Sports, Deliveroo, Kickstarter, Zara, and YPlan, meaning that once you’ve set yourself up with Android Pay, you will no longer have to enter payment details in other apps that support it.
Above: Apps for Android Pay
Android Pay has taken a while to get off the ground around the world, however, the process of launching such a service involves several local partnerships with financial institutions and retailers — this is why the likes of Google and Apple are taking a country-by-country approach. It’s not simply a case of flipping a switch and turning it on for the whole world. Google confirmed with VentureBeat that the U.K. arrival won’t immediately signal a broader European launch.