Google Wallet launched in India; here’s what it can do

Google has launched its wallet service in India, which can be used as a digital wallet to store boarding passes, loyalty cards, tickets, public transport tickets, and gift cards.

The wallet app will coexist alongside the Google Pay app, which is Google's payments app. Google has said its Pixel devices will have a pre-installed Google Wallet app. 

"And starting today, Google Wallet will be available to Android users in India to help further streamline your life," Google says.

The service will focus on making services quickly accessible on mobile devices. "While the Google Pay app remains your destination for all things payments, Google Wallet now brings a new level of convenience to the Android experience in India."

The company says Google Wallet will be a single, organised destination for fast, secure access to everyday essentials. The company has partnered with over 20 brands and is planning to add more in future.

What Google Wallet can do: 

Save movie or event tickets: Google has tied up with PVR & INOX so Android users can add movie and event tickets to Google Wallet.

Access boarding passes: Google has tied up with Air India, Air India Express and online travel companies like MakeMyTrip, Ixigo, and Easemytrip to help travellers save and access mobile boarding passes. If you own a Pixel device, the file can be added by just taking a screenshot and tapping "Add to Google Wallet."

Redeem loyalty or gift cards: Google has tied up with Flipkart (Supercoins), Dominos, Shoppers Stop, and brands supported by loyalty programme enablers Pinelabs, EasyRewardz and Twid. It can help users store and use digital copies of loyalty and gift cards.

Ride public transport: If one travels via Hyderabad Metro, Kochi Metro, VRL Travels and Abhibus, one can purchase and store public transport tickets in the wallet app.

Use Android phone as a corporate badge: Google's tie-up with system integrators Wavelynx and Alert Enterprise allows easy access to the workplace with the facility to store corporate badges in Google Wallet.

Digitise physical documents: One can create new passes in a wallet from images containing a barcode or QR code, like airline boarding passes, luggage tags and parking receipts.

View tickets from Gmail: This feature is for those who have smart personalisation settings in Gmail turned on. After tickets and passes are received by email, they will automatically appear on Google Wallet for a select set of partners.

Google in April 2024 announced the global launch of a new feature ‘Find My Device’ for Android devices, beginning with the U,S. and Canada. This feature leverages a crowdsourced network of over a billion Android smartphones to assist in locating misplaced Android devices and other valuable items equipped with compatible accessories like location trackers.