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Mastercard is offering free Tube travel with Android Pay
In a bid to boost mobile payments, Mastercard kicked-off a series of promotional events last year where it would pay for Londoners' travel if they used its cards to tap in and out of the Tube with Apple Pay. It must have been a success, because today the card giant confirmed that it will do the same for cardholders with Android devices, allowing you to travel on London's travel networks for free every Monday throughout October.
RBS, NatWest and Santander now support Android Pay
Google's contactless payment platform has been given a big boost in the UK after three big banks today enabled Android Pay support. In an announcement, the company confirmed that Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, Santander and Ulster Bank customers can begin adding cards to their Android smartphone to enable NFC and web purchases. While Google confirmed earlier this month that TSB customers would enjoy support in the "coming weeks," the bank isn't quite ready for primetime but is on course to launch before October.
Android Pay hits the web via Chrome
Android Pay is about to work in many, many more places. As promised, Google is bringing Android Pay to the web. If you use Chrome to shop at online stores like 1-800-Flowers and Groupon, you can soon rely on Android's official mobile payment system to check out faster and more securely than usual (it doesn't share account info with stores, for one thing). Also, you may want to get in the habit of using Android Pay if you're fond of ridesharing. It's the first mobile wallet to tie into Uber's Payment Rewards program, giving you discounts when you use Android Pay. Uber is marking the occasion with a US promo that gives travelers half of 10 of their rides when they use Android Pay with the service.
Android Pay automatically adds Walgreen loyalty points
Despite Android Pay's promise of simplicity, getting loyalty points is still a small hassle -- you either have to carry the store's card or have the cashier scan it from your phone. Walgreens has revealed that it's the first retailer to integrate rewards points directly with Google's payment system. All you need to do is place your phone near the payment terminal to scan in your card, then tap it again to actually pay. "Walgreens customers can speed through the entire checkout process in as few as two taps with their Android phones," says Google Senior Director Pali Bhat.
Android Pay will tell you where it works nearby
One of the ways that Google is making Android more useful is by harnessing your location data for context-aware services. For instance, Nearby uses GPS and Bluetooth to monitor where you are, launching a relevant app should one be particularly useful. Now, XDA-Developers has uncovered code inside Android Pay that suggests that it'll bring a similar level of location-aware smarts. If true, then it's possible that a future update will show you retail outlets in your nearby area that take Google's mobile payments platform. Keen-eyed investigators have even found the location-pin style icon that you'll use to activate the feature. Of course, this is all a rumor until it isn't anymore, but it's perfectly in keeping with Google's location-savvy future.
Android Pay Day offers UK discounts for mobile payments
Now that Android Pay is available in the UK, Google wants to make sure people are actually using it. The company has come up with a promotion called Android Pay Day, which offers discounts every month on the Tuesday before your next pay slip. The scheme kicks off today with two deals; firstly, in Starbucks, you can get two-for-one on Frappucinos; the second is a £5 voucher (ANDROIDPAY5 for new users, ANDROIDPAY2.5 for existing customers) that you can redeem inside the Deliveroo app, provided you select Android Pay as your payment method at checkout.
Google lists Android Pay promotions in one page
Google has made it simpler to keep track of all available Android Pay discounts: The big G has launched a promotions page for the service, similar to the one for Chromecast. It details all the promos you can take advantage of for the current crop of Android Pay-compatible apps. For instance, the page lists Uber's offer, which gives you $10 off for your next ride, and explains that you'll have to type the code ANDROIDPAY in the ride-sharing app's promo section to claim it. On the other hand, some applications automatically apply discounts if you choose the mobile wallet as your payment option upon checking out. If you regularly use an app that's compatible with the service, you may want to check the portal every once in a while to make sure you're not missing out on a great deal.
New updates aim to make Android Pay a universal payment system
There's more to today's Android Pay news than just a long-awaited UK launch. Google doesn't want people to just think of Android Pay as a way to pay for things in stores with phones, so today it pulled back the curtain on new and updated APIs to let developers -- and merchants -- use Android Pay in more places and in different ways.
Google launches Android Pay in the UK
As promised, Google has brought Android Pay to the UK. The app is now live in the Google Play Store, meaning anyone with a compatible credit or debit card can link their bank account and start making payments. The Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society are all on board at launch, however it might take a little while before your particular bank is up and running. Oh, and don't expect Barclays to support Android Pay any time soon. It's a little preoccupied with its own Android app.
Barclays offers its own app as an Android Pay alternative
When Barclays confirmed it wasn't planning to support Google's Android Pay service when it launches in the UK, it said it would instead focus on the development of its own platform. Turns out that customers won't have to wait long to see what the bank has planned, after it confirmed today that it will roll out a new version of its banking app with support for "Contactless Mobile" in June.
Chase adds support for Android fingerprint logins
Hot on the heels of Bank of America's latest Android app, Chase now supports Android's fingerprint scanner as well. You'll need Android 6.0 Marshmallow to use the feature, and the company also says that its app doesn't support every Android phone with a fingerprint scanner (given the many different implementations out there, that makes sense). While your fingerprint will get you into Chase's Android app, you'll still have to plug in your password to access some features.
Verizon will give you 2GB of data for trying Android Pay
Verizon may be one of the more expensive wireless carriers here in the US, but they do like to throw customers a bone every so often. The latest offer comes in the form of 2GB extra data on your monthly plan, and to get it all you have to do is try out Android Pay. The first time you pay for something using Google's built-in mobile wallet, you'll get an extra 1GB added to your account. After the third use, you'll get another 1GB.
Barclays isn't planning to support Android Pay in the UK
If UK bank Barclays hadn't angered mobile customers enough over its delayed rollout of Apple Pay, a new announcement today looks take things up a notch. After Google declared that it will bring rival payment service Android Pay to the UK in the coming months, Barclays has gone on record to say it has no plans to support the platform. In a statement sent to Techradar, the company said: "At this stage we are not planning on participating in Android Pay in the UK."
Android Pay is coming to the UK 'in the next few months'
While iPhone users have been enjoying Apple Pay, Android adopters in the UK have been left twiddling their thumbs, or experimenting with alternatives like Barclays' bPay. Android Pay launched in the US last September, but Google has said little about a global rollout. Well, today that's finally changing. The search giant says its service will launch in Britain "soon," or specifically "in the next few months." It certainly won't be this month, anyway. Payments are handled over NFC, meaning the app will work anywhere that contactless payments are currently accepted. That includes Boots, Costa Coffee and the Tube network in London.
Apple leads the (tiny) mobile payment world
It's no secret that the mobile payment space is becoming increasingly crowded, but who's out in front? If you ask Crone Consulting, it's Apple... although Cupertino might not have much to crow about. The analyst group estimates that Apple Pay is the market leader, with 12 million iPhone owners making tap-to-pay purchases at least once a month. Android Pay and Samsung Pay are distant seconds with 5 million active users apiece. However, Crone is quick to note that both of these rivals are roughly half a year old -- they're catching up quickly to an incumbent that's been around for a year and a half.
Google kicks off a public pilot for Hands Free mobile payments
Heads up, Silicon Valley residents: the days of pulling out your credit card to pay for Big Macs are numbered. Google just announced that the pilot program for its Hands Free payments scheme has gone live for certain stores in San Francisco's South Bay, so all you'll have to do is tell the cashier you're "Paying with Google." We're trying to figure out if there's a cap to how many people can sign up, but for now, it looks like all local residents need is an Android device running 4.2 or newer, or an iPhone 4S and newer.
Square is selling its NFC payment reader in Apple Stores
Last November, Square finally got on with the times and unveiled an NFC-friendly reader, but it was only available on Square's website. Now, however, it's available in Apple retail stores too. This means that anyone can go into an Apple store and buy Square's appropriately square-shaped wireless reader without having to order it online. As a reminder, the point-of-sale system is compatible with not only chip-enabled debit/credit cards but also NFC payments like Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay. This isn't the first time Square has partnered up with Apple; its previous card-reader dongle was available in Apple stores as well as its Square Stand register. The NFC-friendly reader does cost $49, but that's a small price to pay if you're a small business who wants more ways for your customers to pay you.
Use Android Pay to handle your in-app purchases
Android Pay has been handling mobile payments for the Google faithful since September, and now it's ready to lend a hand inside apps. Starting today, you can use Mountain View's payments system to complete in-app purchases. Instead of having to pull out your wallet and manually enter card info, you can now easily tap the Android Pay button and confirm your details for quick transactions. The new addition gives Google's payments system a feature iOS users already had with Apple Pay.
Google will give $1 for special ed every time you use Android Pay
After Android Pay's slow rollout throughout the US, it's finally available to everyone -- well, those with a compatible device anyway. In the spirit of giving (or trying to get more people using the service), Google has teamed up with DonorsChoose.org to support special needs children in US schools. Through December 31st, Google will donate $1 for every purchase made through Android Pay, with a total of up to $1 million. The idea is to create an interactive classroom environment so kids who struggle to engage aren't left out. What's more, Android Pay will double its donations for every purchase made on Black Friday. As if you needed another reason to spend big on the most insane shopping day of the year.[Image credit: AOL]
Square's new reader arrives to accept mobile payments and chip cards
We've known about Square's new NFC-friendly reader for a while, and now the point-of-sale gadget is available for use. Starting today, 100 merchants in "select cities" (quite a few, actually) will begin accepting NFC-driven payments like Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay and those newfangled chip credit/debit cards. The reader is a square pad (of course) separate from the company's usual POS setups and sliding readers, allowing you to hover your phone or insert a card to complete purchase. The unit is wireless and pairs with either a countertop system or Square's free mobile app to handle the transactions. However, the new reader itself will set businesses back $49 in order to get started. For the initial rollout, look for the device at businesses in the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Seattle, St. Louis Tampa, and Washington, D.C.
