Google Wallet made a huge wave when it arrived in Malaysia last November as the platform finally unlocked contactless payment capability for NFC-equipped Android and WearOS devices. Things have been rather quiet since then though but there is an upcoming update that could finally expand the card’s usability.
Through this update, users can save all sorts of cards and passes into the Google Wallet app as long as they come with a barcode or QR code. You name them: gym membership card, supermarket reward card, or access pass – all of them can be stored in the app provided they have either type of code.
Google is positioning the feature with the idea that you could have a much lighter physical wallet by switching from physical cards to digital cards that can be stored in Google Wallet. All one has to do in order to save their card into Google Wallet via this feature is by snapping a photo of the card or pass and yes, screenshots work too.
The new update will also allow users to save travel boarding pass or tickets from Google’s Messages app directly into Google Wallet. This is something that the company demonstrated at Google I/O earlier this month as part of the new integration for flight check-in within Messages RCS.
Even though the feature may have just been made official, Google is already working to roll it out with Vietnam Airlines and Spanish train operator Renfe who will be among the first company to support the feature. The company is also working to support corporate badges in Google Wallet too but did not provide any other details within the announcement aside from that it will be available later this year.
As for other features we mentioned earlier, the company also did not provide any specific rollout timeframe and market availability for them. So, it remains to be seen whether they will be made available in Malaysia anytime soon.
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