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Definition: Google Wallet


A smartphone app from Google that enables users to pay for merchandise at retail outlets with their mobile phones. Launched in 2011 with support for MasterCard's PayPass system, Visa and Discover were added a year later.

Near Field Communication Was a Prerequisite
Requiring an NFC-equipped Android phone to make a payment by placing it near a terminal, that prerequisite was dropped in 2013 when Google Wallet became available for non-NFC iPhones (Apple later added NFC). See smartphone wallet and NFC.

Google Wallet and Android Pay
In 2015, Google introduced the Android Pay mobile payment system built into Version 6 of the Android OS (Android M). In 2018, Google Wallet and Android Pay merged into Google Pay. See Android Pay and Google Pay.

Google Wallet History
Since 2011, Google Wallet, Android Pay and Google Pay have merged and split as follows. Cards hold credit cards, business cards, passports and other personal ID, as well as keyless vehicle entry data:

       Contactless  Peer-to-peer
 Year   Payments      Payments      Cards

 2022   G Wallet     G Pay          G Wallet

 2020   G Pay        G Pay          G Pay

 2018   G Pay        G Pay Send     G Pay

 2015   Android Pay  G Wallet

 2011   G Wallet     G Wallet