Android Pay and Google Wallet have now merged into a single payment brand under Google Pay.
Existing users of both services will be able to “speed through checkout with peace of mind,” according to a Jan. 8 announcement, by making it easier for them to use payment information saved on their Google Account.
In the coming weeks, Google says Google Pay will be found online, in stores and across other Google products.
In Canada, Android Pay has collaborated with Moneris, Bambora, Chase, Cybersource, First Data, Global Payments, Paysafe, WorldPay and Stripe.
Google Pay, meanwhile, is available in the U.S. on Airbnb, Dice, HungryHouse, Instacart, and Fandango, among other apps and websites.
The company is also working with several American retailers on promotional items, such as $5 off a Fandango ticket or $10 off an Instacart order to motivate people to sign up.
Despite being widely available in Canada – more so than in the U.S. – mobile payments haven’t yet caught on with Canadians to the extent their developers might hope. An investigation by ITBusiness.ca last year found that according to Visa Inc., only 12 per cent of Canadian smartphone owners have used their phone to make an NFC payment.
