Android Pay launches in the UK

By Rian Boden • • Updated • nfcw.com
Android Pay
PAY DAY: UK consumers can now use Google’s Android Pay at any contactless terminal

Google has launched its Android Pay mobile payment service across the UK, allowing consumers to make payments at any contactless terminal with a tap of their Android handset. The service launches with support from MasterCard, Visa and eight British banks, “with new banks being added all the time,” the company says.

Supporting banks include Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society. Barclays will not be supporting Android Pay, the bank confirmed to NFC World last week, following the unveiling of its own host card emulation (HCE) based mobile payment service.

“You will be able to use Android Pay everywhere contactless payments are accepted including your favourite high street stores like Boots, Starbucks and Waitrose and pay for the Tube, bus and train with Transport for London,” Google’s senior director of product management Pali Bhat writes in a blog post.

“Just tap with your phone as you would with your card. It’s that simple. And businesses across the country with contactless terminals won’t need to do anything else to be able to accept Android Pay in-store. Android Pay will also speed up checkout in your favourite apps including JD Sports, Deliveroo, YPlan and many more.”

Rewards

Google has also announced the launch of Android Pay Day that will bring special offers each month in the week leading up to pay day. “Starbucks UK and Deliveroo will be among the first to reward Android Pay users in the UK,” Bhat continues. “Stay tuned for more offers which will roll out in the months to come.

“Android Pay will soon be available in Singapore and Australia and we will continue to add more countries, features, banks and stores in the coming months — making it even easier to pay with your Android phone around the globe.”

The company’s Spencer Spinnell hinted that a European launch of the mobile payment service was imminent earlier this year at Money20/20 Europe. Android Pay is expected to launch in Australia in the first half of this year, with Australian banks ANZ and Westpac reportedly readying support for the mobile payment service in the country.

Android Pay was unveiled during the Google I/O keynote in May 2015 and was launched across the US in September 2015.

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