When Google announced the Android Pay service on last May,
there were many users wondering about the fate of Google Wallet. The Android
Pay service itself has been officially operated in the United States per
September 10, so does it mean that the Google Wallet has been retired?
No, Google apparently doesn't want to stop the Google Wallet
service just like that. Google gives a new 'life' to Google Wallet. So, instead
of having to compete with Android Pay, Google Wallet is now more focused on
different domain, i.e. peer-to-peer payment.
Google Wallet can now be utilized to mutually send and
receive money, just like when you are transferring between bank accounts. The
difference is to send money through Google Wallet, you only need the email
address of the recipient. You can even send money to someone who is not a user
of Google Wallet.
Google Wallet can be used for free, with application that's
available for Android and iOS. You can send money from bank accounts, debit
cards or Google Wallet balances. If you have a Google Wallet Card, you can use
your Wallet balance to shop at places that accept MasterCard debit cards, or
withdraw the Wallet balance to your bank account.
One scenario of using Google Wallet is when you go out for
dinner together with your peers. One person can pay for the dinner using his
credit card, and then the others can send the amount of each bill through
Google Wallet.
Unfortunately for now, the peer-to-peer payment of Google Wallet can only be enjoyed by users in the United States.