Over six months after its official launch in the US, Android Pay finally arrives in the UK. The Android team is already working to launch the mobile payment service in Europe. They’re partnering with several retailers, banks, and payment networks to enable Android Pay and allow Android users to enjoy the new cashless payment method.
Android Pay is accepted in most establishments where contactless payments are ready. In the UK, feel free to enjoy shopping soon at Waitrose and Boots or have a cup of coffee at Costa Coffee. You can also soon pay with your smartphone to go around London on buses, trains, or the Tube with Android Pay with Transport for London (TfL).
Shopping online will be much more convenient with faster checkout with Android Pay when you shop within apps like YPan, Deliveroo, and JD Sports among others.
Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards from major banks and companies in the UK will be supported including HSBC, Nationwide Building Society, MBNA, M&S Bank, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, First Direct, and Bank of Scotland.
Google will be adding more financial institutions, stores, online shops, and restaurants to its growing list of retailers that will allow tap and pay. In the US, more partners have been added like Rubio’s, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Best Buy, Eat24, Ticketmaster, and Eventbrite.
Average monthly registration is 1.5 million new users so we know it’s growing steadily. Even developers will find it easier to incorporate Android Pay in their apps now as Google has partnered with numerous tech companies in the US and the UK.
SOURCE: Android Official Blog
Will they have more than 3 banks on board? The US versions of Android, Apple, and Samsung Pay are crippled by lack of support. Samsung should be ahead, as their technology works on almost every credit card reader on the planet. But since they have no bank support, it’s useless. Android/Apple are more limited, due to reliance on chip readers that aren’t in place at most vendors. And likewise, both have a tiny percentage of small banks behind them (though at least Android Pay has Capital One onboard.)
What are you talking about? Wireless payments are accepted in 90% of retailers ,mat least in London where I live
That is why I asked. I’m in the United States, and I have only seen one store within 50 miles of me that accepts chipped cards, and that’s in another state. And since none of my banks support Android Pay, it doesn’t help. According to Citizens Bank (the US subsidiary of Royal Bank of Scotland), the format wasn’t standardized in the USA until October of last year, and they won’t be issuing chipped cards until later this year.
I see, completely different story over here. Contactless POSs are in every single store , Google just needs the banks along and it is ready.we all have contactless cards , magnetic strip cards are long gone .