Pay with your phone: Google unveils Android Pay in Britain
Move over Apple, Android Pay is coming to Britain.
Google's Android Pay contactless payment system officially launched Wednesday, making it the first time that the company has made Android Pay available outside its home market of the United States.
The service requires a smartphone running Android 4.4 KitKat or later model, which are聽equipped with Near-Field Communication (NFC) chips.聽Users will have to download the Android Pay app from the Google Play store and link a debit or credit card to the system. The app doesn't need to be open to be used for transactions that are under 拢30. Any transactions above that amount, however, will require approval though a security code, fingerprint, or lock pattern.
Britain is considered one of the biggest markets for contactless payment system. The systems, which have been in place since 2008, have boomed recently driven by the growing number of contactless cards and terminals. As The Guardian reports, 84 million聽contactless credit cards had been used as of February 2016, and
"The arrival of Android Pay once again demonstrates how the UK is a global leader in uptake of digital technologies," Jimmy McLoughlin, the Deputy Head of Policy at The Institute of Directors told the Mirror. "."
Google is now looking to compete with Apple Pay which has been available in Britain since last July. Since it launched, Apple Pay has been successful, drawing support from several British banks, restaurants, and retail outlets. And while Apple has drawn support from banks including Barclays, for android phones to take advantage of the contactless market. Barclays had declined to support Apple Pay when it launched last July, but later reversed its decision in April.
Still, Google's pay system has drawn considerable support from retailers including fast-food chain Pret A Manger and pharmacy chain Boots, as well as Transport for London, which means that android users will be able to pay for their bus, train, and Tube rides using the service. Other banks that will support Android Pay include First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, Bank of Scotland, and Nationwide Building Society.
Android Pay also has an advantage over Apple Pay, as the latter limits its service to iPhones that have the latest fingerprint technology including iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, and iPhone SE. A majority of Britain's smartphone users 鈥� 鈥� own an Android device which gives Android Pay an advantage over Apple Pay.
"Android Pay's low barrier to entry 鈥� most smartphones are NFC-enabled these days 鈥� ," 聽Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch told Cnet.
