Android Pay Launches in UK

Posted on: 2016-05-16 12:08 PM

Like Apple Pay, Android Pay can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted - including high street shops like Boots, Starbucks and Waitrose. It can also be used to pay for the Tube, bus or train with Transport for London.
 
Users just need to download the Android Pay app from the Google Play store, register their credit or debit cards, and then start paying by touching their phones to payment terminals in shops - just as they would with their contactless cards.
 
Android Pay users can make transactions of up to £30 without even unlocking their phones. For transactions higher than £30, they will need to enter their PIN, security pattern or fingerprint.
 
"The arrival of Android pay once again demonstrates how the UK is a global leader in uptake of digital technologies," said Jimmy McLoughlin, The Institute of Directors lead on the Digital Economy.
 
"We are already the contactless capital of the world, and Android pay gives customers another option for quick and convenient payment."
 
Android Pay works with all Android devices running KitKat 4.4 or above that contain an NFC (Near-Field Communication) chip.
 
At launch, Android Pay will support Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards issued by Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society.
 
Some big-name banks such as Barclays, Natwest and Santander are not yet supported, but Google said that new partners are being added all the time.
 
To celebrate the launch, Google is launching a promotion called "Android Pay Day", which will reward users with special offers on the Tuesday before each month's pay day, "to make that last week just a little less painful".
 
Starting in June, Starbucks UK and Deliveroo will be among the first to reward Android Pay users with money-saving offers - and Google said more offers will roll out in the coming months.
 
Commenting on the launch, Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said that is would take years, not months, to build trust in mobile payments among the mainstream.
"Security will be a concern that Android must overcome for paymentson a daily basis, especially for the older generation," he said.
 
However, Android Pay's low barrier to entry means it will have a more wide-reaching impact on how Brits pay for goods than Apple Pay has had alone.
 
"Any Android users glancing sideways at their iPhone-owning mates paying for coffees and train tickets with their phones can put the green-eyed monster to rest. Android Pay is here and it's prolific," he said.
 
"Wide-reaching support for NFC means it works everywhere that contactless cards are accepted, but the launch is just the start and work must be done to garner mainstream adoption."
Google said that Android Pay uses "industry-standard tokenization" to ensure that transactions are secure. That means your real credit or debit card number isn't sent with your payment.
 
Instead, it uses a virtual account number that provides an extra layer of security. As soon as you make a purchase, you'll see a payment confirmation that shows where a given transaction happened, so it’s easy to catch any suspicious activity.
 
If your phone is ever lost or stolen, you can use Android Device Manager to instantly lock your device from anywhere, secure it with a new password, or even wipe it clean of your personal information.