India to see the launch of Google Wallet
According to a recent report, Google Wallet is expected to launch in India soon with customized integrations for the local market. The tech company quietly introduced the Google Wallet app on the Play Store, highlighting features that cater to Indian banks, airlines, and loyalty programs. While the app is not yet available for direct download in India through the Play Store, users can manually install it and connect their bank cards for easy contactless payments. There are rumors that the app will work in conjunction with Google Pay to meet the demands of Indian consumers.
Local integrations raise eyebrows
TechCrunch first spotted the appearance of the Google Wallet app on the Play Store, and it includes integrations with prominent Indian entities such as SBI, Air India and PVR Inox. However, Google quickly replaced these images with images tailored for the US market as the launch approached. However, a cached version of the Play Store listing reveals four screenshots specifically targeted at the Indian audience.
Future integration is threatened by uncertainty
While Google refrained from confirming the immediate launch of the Wallet app in India, it expressed its commitment to improving the Google Pay experience and ensuring convenient and secure access to digital payments. This hints at a possible coexistence of Google Wallet alongside UPI-based Google Pay, adding to the competitiveness of India’s digital payment platforms, which include incumbents such as Paytm, PhonePe, BHIM and Amazon Pay.
However, we have verified that the Google Wallet app cannot be downloaded directly from the Play Store, but it can be installed by downloading the latest APK file on Android devices. Currently, users can only link credit or debit cards to contactless transactions, while the much-maligned loyalty points system is inactive. Despite its limited functionality compared to Google Pay, which supports both contactless payments (with NFC-enabled smartphones) and UPI transactions, the full-scale launch of Google Wallet in India raises questions about a possible integration or coexistence strategy with Google Pay. a strategy that the company has implemented in other markets.
