Google Wallet at I/O’25: Your essential recap with Q&A

By Google for Developers

TechnologyFinanceAI
Share:

Key Concepts

  • Google Wallet global expansion
  • Digital IDs and digital credentials API
  • NFC tap to pay
  • Google Pay vs. Google Wallet
  • Google Wallet API
  • Security of Google Wallet
  • Rotating barcodes and QR codes

Google Wallet Global Expansion and New Features

  • Google Wallet has expanded to over 100 countries and territories.
  • The focus is on making the API more robust, flexible, and feature-rich for developers.
  • The speaker mentions that Google Wallet is the best digital wallet for Android.

Digital IDs and Digital Credentials API

  • Digital IDs are a major announcement from Google IO.
  • Currently available in the US for users with US passports or driver's licenses from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Georgia, Maryland, and Colorado.
  • Upcoming support for Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Ohio, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia.
  • The digital credentials API is a unified and secure framework for apps and websites to request verifiable proof of age and identity.
  • Developed in collaboration with ecosystem partners in the W3C.
  • Allows users to share only the information they choose (e.g., proving age without sharing exact date of birth).
  • Upcoming use cases include account recovery, travel, government services, online health services, and verified profiles.

NFC Tap to Pay

  • Google Wallet is enabled for NFC tap to pay.
  • Requires an NFC-enabled device and a terminal with Google Pay enabled.
  • Users can open Google Wallet, select a credit card, and tap to pay.

Google Pay vs. Google Wallet

  • Google Wallet is a container for digital IDs, debit/credit cards, transit cards, loyalty cards, event tickets, etc.
  • Google Pay is a payment service that processes transactions.
  • Users can pay with Google Pay even without Google Wallet (e.g., tapping a physical credit card).
  • Google Wallet allows users to choose a credit card and tap to pay using Google Pay.

Google Wallet in India

  • Google Wallet is available in India but initially launched without payment methods (credit/debit cards).
  • India was the first country in the global expansion to launch a "passes first" wallet.
  • This was due to the complexities of issuing credit/debit cards in a digital wallet.
  • Google is working on adding payment method features to Google Wallet in India.
  • The Google Pay app is very popular in India and has some overlapping features with Google Wallet.

Google Wallet API

  • Developers can create passes that can be added to Google Wallet.
  • The Google Wallet API is available through Google Cloud.
  • Requires Google Cloud credentials for authentication and authorization.
  • The Google Wallet API is free to use but requires enabling it in the Google Cloud Console.
  • developers.google.com/wallet/events is the URL for past and upcoming Google Wallet events.

Adding Items to Google Wallet

  • Users can add items to Google Wallet by scanning a QR code or barcode, or by using the "Add to Google Wallet" button.
  • The "Add to Google Wallet" button is the preferred method because it indicates an integration provided by a developer, allowing for dynamic updates (e.g., loyalty points, flight information).
  • The QR code/barcode scan is a static image and does not provide real-time updates.
  • Gemini AI is used to recognize and add items to Google Wallet via the camera.

Security of Google Wallet

  • Google Wallet stores credentials, event tickets, boarding passes, and loyalty cards in a safe and secure way.
  • Security is a top priority.
  • Multiple layers of authentication are used to protect private information.
  • Users can enable biometric security (e.g., fingerprint) for authentication.

Rotating Barcodes and QR Codes

  • Google Wallet supports rotating barcodes and QR codes for enhanced security.
  • The secret keys for rotating barcodes and QR codes are not shared with the user or the phone.
  • The phone does not necessarily need to be online to show a valid barcode.
  • The Google Wallet API documentation should be followed for implementation details.
  • The algorithm and frequency of barcode changes are shared with Google Wallet.
  • Google's servers and the Google Wallet app perform computations to validate the barcode at a given time.

Hotel Keys and NFC Tags

  • Google Wallet can integrate with NFC tags and cards, such as hotel room keys.
  • Requires integration with the hotel chain and the specific key reader.
  • Some hotel chains already issue digital keys to Google Wallet.
  • Companies can also issue corporate badges as digital passes in Google Wallet.

Google Wallet and AI Assistants

  • The speaker acknowledges the potential for integrating AI assistants with Google Wallet.
  • Potential use cases include asking about loyalty points or flight information.
  • Security and privacy are top concerns when considering such integration.

Conclusion

The Google Wallet is expanding globally with a focus on new features and developer tools. The digital credentials API is a major step forward in providing secure and verifiable digital identities. While Google Wallet offers a range of functionalities, the speaker emphasizes the importance of security and user privacy. The live Q&A session addressed various user concerns and provided insights into the future development of Google Wallet.

Chat with this Video

AI-Powered

Hi! I can answer questions about this video "Google Wallet at I/O’25: Your essential recap with Q&A". What would you like to know?

Chat is based on the transcript of this video and may not be 100% accurate.

Related Videos

Ready to summarize another video?

Summarize YouTube Video