Google Wallet prepares for Indian launch with local integrations
What's the story
Google Wallet, the digital wallet platform, is gearing up for its debut in India.
The news was inadvertently revealed when a preview of the app appeared on India's Google Play Store.
TechCrunch spotted the listing, indicating that users could load loyalty cards and make purchases, among other features.
However, Google has not confirmed the impending launch for Android users in India, and has since removed some details from the listing.
Separate apps
Google Pay to remain independent here
Despite the introduction of Google Wallet, Google has confirmed that it will still operate Google Pay as an independent app in India.
This approach is unique to the Indian market as elsewhere, Google typically merges Wallet and Pay into a single app.
A representative from Google stated, "While we don't have anything new to share right now, we're always working to bring more convenience to people's digital experiences in India."
Market dominance
Google Pay's significant presence
The decision to keep Google Pay separate is reportedly due to its significant presence in India, which is considered Google's largest global market for payments.
In fact, Google Pay ranks as the second-largest payment app in the country after PhonePe.
As a result, it is expected that the Indian variant of Google Wallet will differ from its US counterpart, with local integrations being a key feature.
Indian entities
Google Wallet's local integrations
The original Google Wallet listing displayed screenshots of Indian entities such as Air India, State Bank of India, and PVR Inox.
This suggests that loyalty points could be earned and used through these brands.
However, these were replaced with US brands after TechCrunch reached out for comment.
Current usage
Limited functionality of Google Wallet in India
While the Google Wallet app is not yet available for download in India, some Android users have reported being able to use the existing app with limited functionality.
Users can add credit/debit cards for contactless payments, but the app does not currently support any Indian businesses or local loyalty programs.
This indicates that while the platform is accessible, its full range of services are yet to be rolled out here.