Android and iOS have seemed to always have been in competition. That is, at least if you based your opinion on the various reports that continually emerge about who is winning, who has the largest market share and who is is selling more devices. That said, in terms of mobile payments, there is a real battle ensuing. Although, if you were to ask Apple, they are not that worried about mobile payments. Since the company launched Apple Pay, retailers and users seem to be flocking to enrol and use the service. This is in stark contrast to the android main offering in the form of Google Wallet.
In fact, in spite of Google Wallet being in existence for far longer, its adoption rate is significantly lower. That is why it was less of a surprise when it was recently reported that Google plan to launch a revised and all-new Android Pay platform at this year’s I/O event in May. The details of the new android payment solution are somewhat limited, although it does seem that most of the carriers and manufacturers are planning to sign up. So much so, that the more recent news that the multi-carrier venture Softcard (formerly ISIS) has now finally wound up its service.
Well, for those who are currently using Google Wallet, it looks like a new service has decided to adopt the platform today. Ridesharing service, Lyft, has today announced that they will now be accepting Google Wallet as a means of payment during rides. To add Wallet to your Lyft account, open the app, click on payment solutions and Google Wallet. Once your accounts are merged, Wallet will become your default payment option. From then on, you can use Wallet to pay for your trips, include tips and so on. Further still, during the announcement (source link below), Lyft also announced they will be offering discounts to those using their service to travel to and from Google’s I/O event. Are you a Lyft user? Happy about Google Wallet integration? Planning on attending I/O this year? If so, will you be using Lyft? Let us know.
