How Google is turning Android into its new portfolio

Not all digital versions of what’s in your physical wallet are in one place on your phone. You probably access your compact, credit and driver cards, for example, in different applications. But Google this week announced updates to make its Wallet app able to store all of that.

For those in a hurry:

In doing so, said Jenny Cheng, Google’s vice president in charge of the app, the company is looking to “completely replace all the stuff you’d normally have in your physical wallet.”

(really) virtual wallet

There will always be people who would never dream of leaving their wallet at home. That’s because there’s a certain sense of security knowing that some of your most important cards are safe in your pocket or purse. But if you’re considering a life where leaving your wallet behind doesn’t get you home quickly, here’s a quick guide to what’s changing.

Digital versions of driver’s licenses and IDs have become more common in recent years. But they are still far from being ubiquitous. Where they exist, they are often integrated into separate applications developed by individual states and technology partners. But that hasn’t stopped some of the biggest names in tech from trying to put these IDs directly into their apps.

For Google, it starts in the state of Maryland (USA), where all residents can store a digital driver’s license in Google Wallet starting this Thursday (1st). There are only two requirements: the feature only works on devices running Android 8.0 or higher, and those devices require a screen lock (PIN or fingerprint).

Over time, this functionality will roll out to people living in Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia, though exactly when digital licenses become usable largely depends on each state.

What else will you give to keep

If your favorite restaurant and/or supermarket’s loyalty program doesn’t offer digital cards, or if you prefer to keep them all in one place on your phone, you can take pictures of your barcodes and QR codes and store them in the Google Wallet app. When this feature rolls out (later in 2023), Cheng says, it will work for pretty much anything that has a barcode.

Additionally, vendors that partner with Google will be able to offer digital insurance cards that live behind an extra layer of protection. Therefore, you will have to enter your PIN or use your fingerprint to prove your identity one more time before viewing it.

At present, Cheng says, Humana and the UK’s tax, payment and customs authorities are working to offer these kinds of “private passes.”

However, if your provider doesn’t use Google’s developer tools, you won’t be able to directly import your existing physical insurance card into Google Wallet unless it has a barcode, and even then, you can’t it would offer the same added layer of protection as you would get from a private pass.

If your provider doesn’t offer digital proof of insurance, we recommend taking a clear photo of the front and back of your card and saving it in a locked note in the Notes app.

With information from The Washington Post

The post How Google is turning Android into its new portfolio first appeared on Olhar Digital.

Source: Olhar Digital