Google Wallet has been launched in India

Google has officially launched its digital wallet in India, marking a significant move in the country’s digital payment landscape. The Google Wallet, which was rebranded from the Google Pay app in the U.S., will now operate alongside the existing Google Pay app in India.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Ram Papatla, general manager and India engineering lead for Android at Google, emphasized that Google Pay will remain the company’s primary payments app in the country, while Google Wallet will cater to non-payment use cases. The new app will allow Android users in India to store and access a variety of items such as boarding passes, gift cards, event tickets, and loyalty passes.

Google Wallet will initially work with 20 brands, including popular names like Flipkart, Air India, and MakeMyTrip, as well as local transport operators like Kochi Metro and Hyderabad Metro. The app will also enable users to create passes from images containing barcodes or QR codes, making it a convenient tool for managing various types of digital tickets and passes.

With Android dominating the smartphone market in India with a 93% market share, Google’s decision to launch Wallet in the country seems well-timed. However, the tech giant will face competition from Samsung Wallet and Apple Wallet, as well as WhatsApp’s integration with platforms like MakeMyTrip for virtual boarding passes and transit tickets.

Overall, the launch of Google Wallet in India represents a significant step towards providing users with a seamless digital wallet experience, offering convenience and efficiency in managing various digital assets and tickets.