Google has officially launched its Wallet application in India following a string of speculations and misconceptions. While some users had early access to the app, its rollout aims to provide faster and more secure access to daily essentials. Google Wallet allows users to conveniently store and retrieve important digital documents like boarding passes, loyalty cards, and cinema tickets. The app is now available for download on the Google Play Store for all Indian users.
Ram Papatla, General Manager and India Engineering Lead for Android at Google, expressed satisfaction in collaborating with several prominent Indian businesses to offer a comprehensive solution for managing daily necessities. He highlighted the convenience of accessing essential documents such as boarding passes, loyalty cards, and event tickets, emphasizing their availability whenever needed.
To enhance the Google Wallet experience, the tech giant partnered with 20 leading Indian brands, including PVR & INOX, Air India, Flipkart, Pine Labs, and Kochi Metro. More partnerships are expected to be established in the coming months, enriching the application’s offerings.
Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Air India, hailed their collaboration with Google Wallet, enabling users to digitize hard copy documents, access public transportation, obtain boarding passes, and redeem loyalty or gift cards seamlessly.
Differentiating between Google Pay and Google Wallet, Google clarified that while Google Pay remains a payment application, Google Wallet serves as a repository for storing documents, cards, and other items. The Pass Add-On feature even allows users to connect their Gmail accounts and save passes directly within the application, enhancing its utility and convenience.