Google Wallet [Pay]

[DROID]

*** This is a general Tech Update Regarding Google Wallet [Pay] ***

- Google Wallet [Pay] has just launched in South Africa.

- Google Wallet [Pay] is a contactless payment service that utilizes NFC to make payments. This can be done by simply tapping your phone (or Watch) instead of your Bank Card/Loyalty Card.

- If you have a watch that is running WearOS, you can utilize this service on your watch as well. (Samsung Watch 4 series & above, or any other watch included in the list of WearOS devices).

- This is extremely exciting for those who do not own an Apple or Samsung Device (those without Samsung Pay or Apple Pay). This is particularly true for Xiaomi, OnePlus, LG, Sony & others.

- It is also great news for people without Samsung Pay availability due to having previously Unlocked their Bootloader (Tripped Knox) on their Samsung Device & are possibly Running a Custom Rom.

- Please Note: For Users on a Custom Rom, this process may be slightly complex/require additional steps to get it working properly. (Not guaranteed to work & is very much Rom dependent).

- Google Wallet [Pay] can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Follow the setup instructions when opening the application to add your Bank & Loyalty Cards.

- Support is offered for the following Banks in SA: FirstRand, Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Discovery Bank, and Investec.

- I hope this thread/news is helpful!

 

[SteriStumpi]

That's super interesting! Great that it's finally supported in South Africa.

 

[DW_za]

Using Garmin pay (since I have the watch) at the moment linked to my FNB virtual card.

Excuse the ignorance, apart from wearOS and using your watch, why would you not just use your banking app to use scan/tap to pay? Honestly I have only ever banked with FNB, but pretty sure the other banks also have tap to pay on their apps or not?

The loyalty cards are lekker, but pretty much nothing available yet in SA.

EDIT: Just confirmed with a buddy that banks with ABSA they don't have tap to pay on the app, so I get the hype.

 

[DROID]

Using Garmin pay (since I have the watch) at the moment linked to my FNB virtual card.

Excuse the ignorance, apart from wearOS and using your watch, why would you not just use your banking app to use scan/tap to pay? Honestly I have only ever banked with FNB, but pretty sure the other banks also have tap to pay on their apps or not?

The loyalty cards are lekker, but pretty much nothing available yet in SA.

Hi there,

A simple answer to this is:

No, FNB are the only Bank that I'm aware of that offer such a service through their app.

Also, as you mentioned, smart watches using WearOS cannot use an app such as FNB's Banking app to make payments. I actually find using my watch even more handy & convenient than my phone to make payments.

So, for those that use FNB & those who do not enjoy using their watch for this purpose, the FNB app is perfect for them. But I'd say majority of people do not fall into that category, which is the reason I posted this thread 👍

 

[DW_za]

Hi there,

A simple answer to this is:

No, FNB are the only Bank that I'm aware of that offer such a service through their app.

Also, as you mentioned, smart watches using WearOS cannot use an app such as FNB's Banking app to make payments. I actually find using my watch even more handy & convenient than my phone to make payments.

So, for those that use FNB & those who do not enjoy using their watch for this purpose, the FNB app is perfect for them. But I'd say majority of people do not fall into that category, which is the reason I posted this thread 👍

100% make sense, I wasn't aware the other banks don't really have the functionality on their apps.

 

[snorbaard]

- This is extremely exciting for those who do not own an Apple or Samsung Device (those without Samsung Pay or Apple Pay). This is particularly true for Xiaomi, OnePlus, LG, Sony & others.

- Support is offered for the following Banks in SA: FirstRand, Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Discovery Bank, and Investec.

Finally! I recently got a new (non Samsung) Android phone with NFC and was looking for information about paying with NFC but at the time I couldn't find any information about when Google Pay will be supported in SA, so I'm very surprised.

Has anyone tested this out yet?

 

[snorbaard]

Has anyone tested this out yet?

I've gone ahead today to test it out. Went to three retail chains, only 1 worked.

Pick n Pay - Did not work - Gives a processing error pretty much instantly
Crazy Store - Worked instantly
Woolworths - Edit: worked fine

 

[DROID]

Has anyone tested this out yet?

Sorry for the delayed response. I have tested Google Wallet [Pay] at Clicks, BP, Engen, Woolworths, Essential Health Pharmacy & Vaperite. All worked perfectly without exception, have not had a failed attempt to date. Very impressed with these results 👍

 

[snorbaard]

Sorry for the delayed response. I have tested Google Wallet [Pay] at Clicks, BP, Engen, Woolworths, Essential Health Pharmacy & Vaperite. All worked perfectly without exception, have not had a failed attempt to date. Very impressed with these results 👍

I will edit my previous post but Woolworths did work for me today. Only one to date that hasn't worked for me is Pick n Pay. Will keep testing Pick n Pay regularly and update here once it changes.

 

[snorbaard]

This week Pick n Pay worked twice and twice it didn't, the one time the cashier mentioned she thinks the card reader is at fault.

Woolworths worked every time except yesterday, Google Pay app gave an error and asked me to retry, after the second try it said something along the lines of the card reader is possibly misconfigured.

But when it works it works great and is super fast, faster than tapping a card.

For what it's worth I'm with Absa.