Google’s mobile payment system, Google Wallet, lets users store a variety of financial data securely on their mobile device.
You can store debit or credit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, and sales promotion material in one secure location on your device. With Wallet, you also have the option for near field communication (NFC), which allows you to “make secure payments fast and convenient by simply tapping the phone on any PayPass-enabled terminal at checkout.”
Over 300,000 MasterCard PayPass merchant locations are available for users, and Visa’s licensed Visa PayWave system has been compatible with Google Wallet since September 20, 2011.
On May 15, 2013 Google Wallet and Gmail were integrated, making it possible for users to send money through a Gmail attachment. This service, along with Google Wallet’s main service, is available only in the US to users 18 or older.
On February 23, 2015, it was reported that Google would take over the competing Softcard service and merge it with Google Wallet. At the same time, it was announced that a Google Wallet app called Android Pay would be bundled onto AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, and Verizon Wireless compatible devices. Together, this new system is meant to compete against Apple Pay’s mobile payment service.