Google Wallet is set to launch in India, almost two years after its relaunch as a digital wallet platform in the U.S. This information comes from a preview of the app that was accidentally posted on the Google Play store in India.
After TechCrunch discovered the app listing, which will allow users to load loyalty cards and make purchases, Google has neither confirmed nor denied the imminent release of the app for Android users. However, it did remove some details from the listing, including potential high-profile launch partners in India. The app now features more generic U.S. brands.
Google has confirmed that Google Pay will continue to operate as a standalone app in India for the time being, diverging from the strategy in other markets where Google Wallet and Google Pay have been merged under a single app.
According to a statement from a Google spokesperson to TechCrunch, “While we don’t have anything new to share right now, we’re always working to bring more convenience to people’s digital experiences in India. We’re continuing to invest in the Google Pay app to give people easy, secure access to digital payments.”
The decision to retain Google Pay as a separate service in India, alongside the upcoming Google Wallet app, is likely due to Google Pay’s significant presence in the country. India is Google’s largest market globally for payments, with Google Pay being the second most popular payment app after PhonePe.
The Indian version of Google Wallet is expected to provide unique local integrations tailored to the country’s Android user base, which is the largest in the world. Screenshots of the Google Wallet app in India featured partnerships with local brands like Air India, State Bank of India, and PVR Inox for loyalty program integration.
Image Credits: Google Play Store screenshots
The existing Google Wallet app is not yet available for download in the Play Store in India, but some users have reported limited functionality with the app, such as adding credit and debit cards for contactless payments.
Google has undergone several changes in its financial services offerings, including the launch of Google Wallet in 2011, Android Pay, and the eventual transition to Google Pay. In 2022, Google relaunched Google Wallet as a digital wallet platform. The Indian version of Google Pay utilizes the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for payments, setting it apart from the U.S. version.
Google Pay’s popularity in India, ranking second among UPI apps, has led Google to continue supporting it alongside the upcoming Google Wallet app. Google Pay facilitated over 5 billion transactions valued at over $83 billion in March, making it a key player in the Indian digital payment landscape.
