Android Pay would be available in Australia by the first half of 2016. To prepare for its arrival, Google has partnered with major Australian banks to support the move.
At least nine Australian banks have agreed to support Android Pay. These are Macquarie Bank, ING Direct, Cuscal, Bendigo Bank, Bank of South Australia, Bank of Melbourne, St. George, Westpac and ANZ, reports ZDNET.
Besides the banks, Google also entered into partnership agreements with local stores such as Braintree, eWay, First Data and Stripe. Also supporting Android Pay in Australia are 7-Eleven, Coles Express, Coles Supermarkets, Domino's Pizza, Donut King and McDonald's.
Participating apps include Catch of the Day, EatNow, GoCatch, Kogan.com, Menulog, OzSale and The Iconic. Besides the in-app payments, Android Pay would also allow storing gift cards, loyalty cards and special offers.
Australians who have smartphones that run on Android 4.4 or higher OS could use Android Pay at checkout counters by holding their phones near a terminal. It is contactless payment because Android Pay uses near-field communications technology.
The user's credit or debit card number will not be shared with the merchant, Google assures customers. After a purchase is made, the payment confirmation will appear on the smartphone to confirm the transaction. Phone owners could also lock their gadgets if it is stolen or lost by using the Android Device Manager.
Android Pay, the newer version of Google Wallet, was launched in the U.S. in September. But Google Wallet has been in the U.S. since 2011, although it was never launched in Australia. Apple Pay launched in Australis in November, but the only participating financial institution was American Express.
About 55 percent of Australians use Android smartphones. Android Pay's arrival, however, is a little bit late since a survey by Commonwealth Bank found that 24 percent of consumers would prefer to do their Christmas shopping using their smartphones to pay for their purchases instead of cash, reports CNET.