Google introduces its Wallet app in India; know the difference between Google Wallet and Google Pay

Google has officially introduced its Wallet app in India, providing Android users with a platform to securely store various items such as boarding passes, loyalty cards, movie tickets, digital car keys, and more. This announcement follows an accidental listing of the app on the Play Store last month.

It's essential to note that Google Wallet differs from Google Pay, the popular payment app. While Google Pay remains the primary payment application, Google Wallet is tailored for non-payment use cases.

Ram Paptala, GM and India Engineering Lead for Android at Google, emphasized that Google Pay will continue to be the primary payments app. However, Google Wallet fills a specific niche, offering a secure digital wallet for storing essential non-payment items.

In terms of functionality, Google Wallet allows users to store boarding passes for flights, event tickets, movie tickets, and even digital car keys. Google has partnered with various entities such as Air India, MakeMyTrip, Dominos, BMW, and PVR-Inox to facilitate these services.

Moreover, users can conveniently add their boarding passes to Google Wallet by taking a screenshot and tapping "Add to Google Wallet." The app also supports the creation of new passes from any image containing a barcode or QR code, such as airline boarding passes or parking receipts.

Regarding compatibility, Google Wallet in India will only function on Android phones and won't be available on smartwatches or other wearables. However, in other countries, the app supports wearables as well.

While the Google Wallet app is not yet listed on the Google Play Store in India, its availability is expected soon.

In summary, Google Wallet fills a significant gap by providing Android users in India with a secure platform to store essential non-payment items, offering convenience and accessibility for various everyday needs.