Paying by mobile phone is still a niche offering in India. It works with the Google Pay app on Android devices, among others. So far, only a few banks support this service, while others rely on their solutions. The essentials in brief:
- Google Pay allows payment on site, in apps and web shops. All you need at the checkout is your smartphone.
- The app only works with certain banks and payment services.
- Also, note the data protection notices and settings. Google earns money by evaluating your data and, for example, tailoring advertising to you.
How Does Google Pay Work?
Google Pay is a payment service that you can use both in retail at checkouts and to pay in apps or online shops. The prerequisite is that the respective retailer accepts Google Pay as a payment method. To use Google Pay to pay, you need three things:
- An Android smartphone with NFC and at least Android 4.4 (“KitKat”) means an Android smartphone that belongs to a newer generation. Payments with Android smartwatches or tablets are also possible.
- The Google Pay App.
- For example, a suitable credit card – a Mastercard or Visa card from a participating bank or a supported payment system such as PayPal.
Set-up is quick: When you start the Google Pay app for the first time, you will be asked to add your credit card number to Google Pay or select a card that has already been saved. Payment then works similarly to a credit card with a contactless payment function via the NFC interface. You say in the store that you want to pay contactless and hold your mobile phone up to the reader.
And amounts of up to 25 euros are paid without further ado. You only have to unlock your smartphone’s display for more significant amounts – a security measure so that a thief cannot buy as much as you like. Google Pay works like a digital wallet. This means that you can deposit many different cards there. Credit and bonus cards can also be transferred there.
What About Data Protection?
The Google Pay app is subject to the general data protection regulations of the company Google. In principle, it is then possible to evaluate the data from the payment. This data is valuable to the company because it provides information about what someone is buying, where, when, and what price. In this context, for example, the following can also be considered:
- Date and time of purchase
- Dealer Location and Dealer Name
- the description of the goods
On this basis, advertising and offer conditions, such as prices and discounts, can be precisely tailored to users by advertisers. The data from Google Pay can also be merged with other information that arises when using other Google services. In this way, the Group can gain a comprehensive picture of you and your consumption habits. Therefore, take a look at Google’s privacy policy and app settings to understand how data is used.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Google Pay
At first glance, Google Pay’s service is solving a problem that is not immediately apparent in the Indian market. Because contactless payment is also possible with the card. And so far, only very few banks support this service with their cards. Owners of a Visa or Mastercard from another bank are excluded for the time being.
If you are a Sparkasse customer, for example – the banking group with the most private customers in India – you could not use Google Pay. Instead, you are then dependent on your bank’s app. In addition, the retailers and the users across the board would have to go along and accept the offer. So far, however, it doesn’t look like it: three out of four purchases are still paid for in cash.
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