Yesterday, a rollout began of Google Wallet for Android bringing a massive update that will make the app compatible with all Android devices and fundamentally changed the purpose and functionality of the app. The focus has moved away from NFC payments to offering an easy way to send money (similar to PayPal), and allow users to store loyalty card information and various offers.
Today, Google has released Google Wallet for the iPhone. Surprisingly, this is not a version 1.0 app. The App Store information actually puts this at Google Wallet version 2.0.10206, which puts it close to even with the Android version. Google Wallet for iPhone offers most of the functionality that you would expect from the new app including sending and receiving money, storing loyalty cards, storing offers, and being notified based on your location when a saved offer can be used nearby.
Not surprisingly, the one function that doesn't exist in the iPhone version is the option to tap to pay using NFC in stores. Given that the iPhone still doesn't have NFC, and may never adopt the hardware, it would have been a big surprise for Google to include that.
Michael Heller is known for his clear and informative articles on mobile technology. He explores important topics such as the rollouts of 5G networks and the advancements in mobile payments, offering readers insights into the evolving tech landscape.
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