Google has declared the discontinuation of Google Pay in the United States. The tech giant announced that all users will be transitioned to Google Wallet, with the standalone Google Pay app in the US set to become unusable from June 4, 2024.
Key Features Retained: Google Wallet's Tap-to-Pay and Payment Management
Google Wallet, the designated replacement for Google Pay, will retain features, such as in-store tap-to-pay and payment method management. According to a company blog post, the usage of Google Wallet in the US is reportedly five times higher than that of Google Pay.
"Google Wallet continues to be the primary place for people to securely store payment cards used for tap and pay in stores, alongside other digital items like transit cards, driver's licenses, state IDs and more. To simplify the app experience, the US version of the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use starting June 4, 2024," the company stated in its blog post.
Google Pay Services Remain Unchanged in India and Singapore
However, Google Pay's services in other countries, including India, will remain unaffected by the transition. The company assures users that the usual functionalities of Google Pay for online checkout and in-store payments will remain unchanged.
Specifically addressing users in India and Singapore, Google emphasized that there would be no changes to the Google Pay app as the company continues to cater to the specific needs of these countries. Following the discontinuation of the standalone Google Pay app in the US, users will still be able to view and transfer funds to their bank accounts via the Google Pay website.
Google Wallet offers users a range of functionalities, including making payments in stores, boarding planes, riding transit, storing loyalty cards, saving driver's licenses, and starting a car via a digital key. Google has highlighted that people in more than 180 countries utilize Google Pay for various payment needs, including shopping on desktop, mobile, and in-store platforms.
