Google Wallet: NFC Card Adds Coming Soon
## Google Wallet to Add NFC Card Enrollment for Easier Payment Setup
Google is poised to significantly streamline the process of adding credit and debit cards to Google Wallet with the introduction of near-field communication (NFC) card enrollment. This new feature, discovered through an APK teardown of the latest Google Play Services beta (version 25.16.33) by Android Authority, will supplement existing methods of manual entry and camera scanning.
Currently, users add cards to Google Wallet by either manually typing in card details or by scanning the card using their phone's camera. The upcoming NFC option will allow users to simply tap their contactless payment card against their NFC-enabled phone to quickly input the card number and expiration date. While this simplifies the process, users may still need to manually enter the CVV code for security reasons, and additional verification steps from the issuing bank may be required.
The functionality is similar to existing NFC card-reading features in other banking apps, though compatibility may vary. While the APK teardown did not specify exact compatibility, it's likely the feature will primarily support EMV-compliant cards—cards from Europay, Mastercard, and Visa that utilize integrated circuit chips for both contactless and traditional transactions. Not all EMV-compliant cards may be immediately supported, depending on how the card issuer handles contactless data.
While the discovery offers strong evidence of the feature's impending release, it remains uncertain when Google will officially roll it out. The presence of the code in the latest beta version suggests a public launch is likely imminent, though there's no guarantee of a release date. This new addition reflects Google's commitment to enhancing user convenience, following the recent addition of passport support in Google Wallet. The NFC enrollment feature promises to make adding payment methods to Google Wallet significantly quicker and easier for many users.
Google is poised to significantly streamline the process of adding credit and debit cards to Google Wallet with the introduction of near-field communication (NFC) card enrollment. This new feature, discovered through an APK teardown of the latest Google Play Services beta (version 25.16.33) by Android Authority, will supplement existing methods of manual entry and camera scanning.
Currently, users add cards to Google Wallet by either manually typing in card details or by scanning the card using their phone's camera. The upcoming NFC option will allow users to simply tap their contactless payment card against their NFC-enabled phone to quickly input the card number and expiration date. While this simplifies the process, users may still need to manually enter the CVV code for security reasons, and additional verification steps from the issuing bank may be required.
The functionality is similar to existing NFC card-reading features in other banking apps, though compatibility may vary. While the APK teardown did not specify exact compatibility, it's likely the feature will primarily support EMV-compliant cards—cards from Europay, Mastercard, and Visa that utilize integrated circuit chips for both contactless and traditional transactions. Not all EMV-compliant cards may be immediately supported, depending on how the card issuer handles contactless data.
While the discovery offers strong evidence of the feature's impending release, it remains uncertain when Google will officially roll it out. The presence of the code in the latest beta version suggests a public launch is likely imminent, though there's no guarantee of a release date. This new addition reflects Google's commitment to enhancing user convenience, following the recent addition of passport support in Google Wallet. The NFC enrollment feature promises to make adding payment methods to Google Wallet significantly quicker and easier for many users.
