Today's another big day for the digital wallet market, as Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay expand to Belgium, Ireland and India respectively.
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Both Samsung Pay and Apple Pay continue to grow at a remarkable pace, stateside, across Asia and many other regions.
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Apple Pay and Samsung Pay continue to fight from a distance for digital wallet world domination, launching soon in Taiwan and India respectively.
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It's real, it's official, and it's coming soon... at least for compatible Android phones in Korea. Meet the online payment-dedicated Samsung Pay Mini.
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The cat is now out of the bag, as Android 7.0 Nougat on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge reveals Samsung Pay is on its sure way to Indian shores.
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Despite Google’s rumored hostility to Samsung’s also rumored personal assistant plans for the fast-approaching Galaxy S8, the Viv-based Bixby AI character looks just about ready for primetime. And it might be integrated even more “system-wide” than you perhaps anticipated.
In addition to a dedicated side button for smart assistance activation, and your typical voice commands for web searches, messaging, various social media actions, photos, calls and so on, Bixby could well work with Samsung Pay too.
Or rather Samsung Pay Mini, aka a long-in-the-pipeline online payment platform for both Android and iOS that the chaebol appears to be confirming today, along with Bixby’s name. The two monikers are listed in black and white on an official Korean Samsung Pay Beta website, suggesting they’ll soon be tested by those willing to help out the digital wallet’s development and evolution.
Unfortunately, that’s all we have right now, and there’s no telling when further details will be released. Maybe in April, but probably (hopefully), sooner.
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It’s not just about how many countries each of the world’s top three digital wallet services can cover. It’s also, or perhaps most importantly, what markets Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay are available in, with how many banks, and at what local retailers.
Samsung, for instance, is still at a great disadvantage as a result of constant struggles and repeated delays in the key British space. Meanwhile, Google hasn’t been able to bring its universal Android smartphone-compatible e-payment platform to China. And India doesn’t support Apple Pay.
Wait, so Samsung Pay is available on Indian shores? Not yet, but according to a generally rock-solid source, it will be soon enough. Most likely, sooner than Cupertino’s iOS-enabled solution. Possibly, as early as “the first half of 2017.”
Unfortunately, regional tests of the NFC and MST-supporting technology are barely underway, and so H1 rollout plans could always be subject to change or last-minute postponement. Let’s hope that’s not the case, and who knows, maybe Samsung can give the service this huge coverage boost around the time the Galaxy S8 launches next spring.
It would certainly help with local adoption if mid-range phones indeed got their platform admission before long, though bank backing remains the central piece of any mobile payment app expansion puzzle.
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Mobile payments are on the move. They seem like they’ve gone nowhere and everywhere at the same time. But usage has steadily increased over the past few years and Samsung feels like it can kick mobile payments up a notch by making Samsung Pay more available next year.
How available? The chaebol told Business Korea that it has decided to pre-load the Pay app on all of its smartphones with fingerprint sensors next year. Most mid-to-low-end phones will get the app in 2017.
Mobile division chief Dong-jin Koh hinted at the system’s expansion to mid-range models in August. It’s not clear how many models will get the MST technology that allows top-end Galaxy phones to “swipe in” at credit card terminals.
A “Samsung Pay Mini” app is also in the works, but as opposed to being an app that only supports fingerprint sensory, it is mostly targeted towards online payments.
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While Apple is busy bragging about the relatively rapid US retail expansion of its proprietary digital wallet solution, and Samsung inexplicably continues to struggle convincing even British banks to support its NFC and MST-enabled mobile payment service, Google quietly ramps up Android Pay’s global reach.
Available exclusively on American shores until not that long ago, the universal Android 4.4 and up-compatible e-money app very quickly expanded to the UK, Singapore, Australia, Poland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and today, Ireland.
Yes, the same Ireland where neither Apple Pay, nor Samsung Pay are accessible at the moment. And yes, one major local financial institution (AIB), and a smaller Irish banking player (KBC) are already in Big G’s corner when it comes to blazing fast, perfectly secure smartphone shopping.
You can use both Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards issued by the aforementioned companies at physical stores and restaurants including Boots, Eason, KFC, McDonald’s and SPAR locations, plus in apps like Adverts.ie, Deliveroo and Uber, with “many more” obviously to come. More banks, more shops, and more apps. Maybe even crackers, freebies and other incentives.
One thing Android Pay doesn’t need to drive adoption in Ireland and the world over is convenience. Just tap and pay. What could be more convenient?
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Once again, two of the world’s three major digital wallet services practically expand to a new country each at the same time to try to steal one another’s thunder. This time, we’re seeing Google flip the Android Pay switch in New Zealand, where Apple Pay debuted less than two months ago, while Cupertino spreads the iOS-enabled mobile payment love to Spain.
Samsung Pay was actually first on Spanish shores way back in June, though interestingly enough, there’s no overlap yet between the local banks supporting the arch-rival e-money solutions. Each app has one key financial player in its corner (CaixaBank for Samsung, Banco Santander for Apple), with a few smaller banking companies hitched to the Galaxy-exclusive smartphone payment resource, including Banco Sabadell, Abanca, and Imagin.
Santander proudly proclaims its commitment to “bring innovation and new technology to our customers to make their payments easier, faster and more secure”, highlighting around 75 percent of Spanish stores already support contactless payments, and ergo, Apple Pay starting today.
Mastercard debit and credit cards issued by the “leading retail and commercial bank” can be added to the iPhone SE, 6 and later, as well as the Apple Watch, for tap-and-go checkout, with in-app and online shopping also made simple and secure on select iPads and Macs. But Samsung Pay still holds the MST advantage.
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We interrupt our ongoing coverage of the US Cyber Monday deal bonanza for an important public service announcement directed at a very small but vocal group of Android power users in possession of both a Pixel phone and Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch.
There’s unfortunately no point in trying to activate Samsung Pay on the next-gen Tizen smartwatch, be it the Classic or Frontier variant, when synched to a hot new Google-made handheld. The mobile payment app’s official Twitter channel admins have just confirmed “#SamsungPay on the Gear S3 is not available with Pixel devices”… for some reason.
It might be because Samsung is yet to bring Pixel compatibility to either the Gear S3 or S2 in the first place. But technically, the two wearable gadgets aren’t explicitly listed as supporting the LG V20, and there’s already clear evidence the popular 5.7-incher can both connect to the Gear S3 and easily sustain its digital wallet functionality.
Our guess is the reason Pixel owners are met with installation error messages when trying to flip the Samsung Pay switch is their exclusive use of Android 7.1 software. If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be long until the problem gets fixed.
Soon enough, Samsung Pay will also work on select non-Galaxy phones paired with the Gear S2, and that’s information confirmed by the chaebol on social media.
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Smartwatches and mobile payment services sometimes work in mysterious ways. For instance, Google left its ego aside a while back, convincing Apple to allow iPhone synchronization on Android Wear devices.
But Apple Watches are still not compatible with Android phones. As for Samsung’s Tizen-powered wearables, they fully support relatively new Androids, also picking up beta iPhone functionality a few months ago after a number of false starts.
Where do digital wallets come in? In an unexpected but very welcome twist, it seems that the Samsung Gear S3 will indeed let you pay for stuff on the go from your wrist even when not hooked to a Galaxy phone.
The rumor that originated earlier this week on Reddit today gets the corroboration of Samsung Pay’s official Twitter handlers. No room for doubt or interpretation, as it’s clearly spelled out that “#SamsungPay works on the #GearS3 with other Android devices running 4.4 KitKat or above.”
So, yeah, no need to make a compromise and choose the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge as the explosive Note 7’s replacement if, say, you really want to buy a Pixel or LG V20 alongside a Samsung Pay-enabled Gear S3 Frontier or Classic. Dare we hope the Gear S3 will also support Samsung Pay when paired to an iPhone? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
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After picking up US support for various membership and loyalty cards back in May, Samsung Pay further beefs up its efforts of one-upping arch-rival digital wallet service Apple Pay in the latter’s home court by launching a new rewards program this week.
This one’s an internal customer-incentivizing plan, giving you points for each and every Samsung Pay purchase, and encouraging you to spend more rather than aiming to reduce physical wallet clutter.
Of course, you’re still encouraged to slim down and maybe even leave that at home once you store everything in the all-accommodating mobile payment resource compatible with select high-end Galaxy phones.
The aptly named Samsung Rewards scheme works “just like a points-based credit card rewards program”, even letting you “double dip” on points, as long as your card’s issuer operates a similar loyalty program.
Depending on how often you make NFC or MST-enabled smartphone payments, you can qualify for one of three loyalty tiers, with support for double, triple and quadruple point gains respectively. Your actual benefits then include various Samsung products, Samsung.com vouchers, Samsung Rewards Visa Prepaid card value, and gift cards to “some of the country’s leading retailers.”
Remember, in-app payments are now also integrated on the fast-rising e-money platform, with online transactions coming soon, and therefore, more chances for Samsung Rewards accumulation.
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In the market for a fancy new smartwatch this holiday season? If you absolutely insist on buying a new high-end wearable device, and money isn’t a problem, the choice probably comes down to the iPhone-compatible Apple Watch Series 2 or Android-first Samsung Gear S3.
Mind you, the Gear S3, available in Frontier and Classic designs, doesn’t run Android Wear on the software side of things, but rather its manufacturer’s proprietary Tizen OS, losing a bit of ground to the second-gen “iWatch” as it barely launches today in South Korea.
Unveiled way back in late August at IFA Berlin, the “timelessly designed” wrist-worn gadget kicked off pre-orders in a number of countries over the past few weeks, finally shipping to early adopters and arriving in various physical stores across the US, UK, Singapore, Germany, France, Dubai and Australia “starting on November 18.”
Priced at $350 outright stateside by retailers including Amazon and Best Buy, as well as $250 and up on AT&T, the Samsung Gear S3 “enhances standalone convenience”, features its own GPS chip, optional LTE connectivity, a sharp 1.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, dual-core processing power, and IP68 water/dust resistance. It also supports Samsung Pay with built-in MST payment capabilities, at least in the US, Australia and Singapore at launch.
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Another day, another important update to the ever-growing list of financial institutions around the globe supporting the digital wallet movement. Make that two, as Apple Pay brings secure on-the-go payments to iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches owned by clients of 31 new Australian banks, while Google modestly settles for taking over the US instead of the entire world with, coincidence, 31 extra local credit unions and trusts aboard the Android Pay train.
Capital One undoubtedly headlines the roster of recently added participating American banks to the Android Pay program enabling in-app and one-tap purchases and transactions for any Google-powered, NFC-backed mobile device running OS build 4.4 and up.
The rest of the service’s newbies are mostly small, niche banking players, including the Citizens Savings Bank, Great River FCU, Impact Bank, Midcoast FCU, San Antonio Federal Credit Union, and Seaside National Bank & Trust, to only name a few. Still, in addition to preexisting compatibility for “major credit and debit cards from most of the top US banks”, these frequent expansion waves ensure millions of potential customers are covered.
Meanwhile, Apple Pay continues to make timid progress in Australia, where ANZ remains the lone “Big Four” member willing to abide by Cupertino’s strict rules. As NAB, CBA and WBC insist on gaining access to the underlying NFC technology, Cuscal throws its full weight behind Samsung Pay’s arch-rival, enabling small financial firms like Bank of Sydney, Central West Credit Union, CUA, Defence Bank, Police Bank, and Teachers Mutual Bank to use the mobile payment app.
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