Android Pay coming to Australia in 2016

Google has announced it will release Android Pay in Australia during the first half of 2016, allowing users to make mobile payments by tapping their Android smartphones on terminals.

Most of the major financial institutions in Australia – ANZ, Westpac, St George, ING DIRECT, Macquarie Bank, Bank of Melbourne, Bendigo Bank and Cuscal – are looking to take up this technology for their customers next year. Google said it aims to get more banks involved throughout 2016.

Android Pay will allow Visa, MasterCard and debit card holders to make payments, with Google currently working to include eftpos.

Google is also integrating its Android Pay with apps such as GoCatch, Menulog, Kogan.com, OzSale, Catch of the Day, EatNow, Rewardle and The Iconic. This means users can pay for these products and services directly through their mobile phone.

Australian retailers that are looking to come on board when Android Pay launches include Coles Supermarkets, Coles Express, 7-Eleven, Crust Gourmet Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Capers, Telstra, Brumby’s Bakery, Michel’s Patisserie, Donut King, Gloria Jean’s Coffees and McDonald’s.

Braintree, eWay, First Data and Stripe are also getting involved to help make Android Pay an easy form of payment across Australian stores and apps.

Android Pay will also allow users to store their loyalty cards, gift cards and special offers.

For merchants, Apple Pay will integrate with their existing payment infrastructure to process mobile payments. Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme secures the payments, with standard tokenisation which doesn’t reveal users’ actual card numbers to merchants.

In November this year, Apple released its Apple Pay in Australia. However, it is only available to American Express customers.