Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Google is infamous for its confused ecosystem strategy, and the Google Wallet and Google Pay apps are prime examples of said confusion. At an event in India today, Google launched the Google Wallet app for the country, but it will coexist alongside the Google Pay app.
Google Wallet in India
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Google has officially launched Google Wallet in India. The Wallet app will allow users to store boarding passes, gift cards, loyalty cards, event cards, movie tickets, car keys, access cards, and even provide transit OTAs.
Google Pixel devices sold in India will come preloaded with the Google Wallet app. Users will also be able to add Google Wallet as a lock screen shortcut, allowing for quick and easy access.
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Launch partners for Google Wallet in India include some popular businesses, such as PVR Inox, Makemytrip, Air India, Shoppers Stop, BMW, and more.
Sadly, Google also confirmed that Google Wallet is not extending to wearables in India. So the stored data in Google Wallet will remain accessible only through your phone.
Google Pay will co-exist alongside Google Wallet in India
You might have noticed that payment-related functionality seems weirdly absent from Google Wallet in India. That is because the Google Wallet app will coexist alongside the popular Google Pay app in India.
Google Pay will remain the primary use case for payments in the country, while Google Wallet is a digital store of access information. No payments will be done through Google Wallet in India. If you want to add a card or pay through your phone’s NFC, you will have to use the Google Pay app, which supports this functionality.
Further, Google Wallet is not extending to wearables in India, either.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more details.