A Google executive has stated that the search giant is trying to find ways to implement its payment service, Android Pay, to desktops. According to Google’s director for emerging platforms Spencer Spinell, the desktop implementation of Android Pay will be designed to complement its current offering of mobile payment service. However, Spinell stated that they are currently focusing on mobile platforms, which is not surprising given that the infrastructure and standards for desktop implementation of payment services are yet to be finalized. There is a clear benefit in making Android Pay available to desktops since it will result in a less complicated user experience as consumers can use the same service everywhere.
At this point, however, Google is already working with partners to develop standards that will allow for a secure desktop implementation of its payment service. According to Spinell, Google is currently working in collaboration with WC3, the consortium responsible for developing desktop and web payment standards. By working with WC3, the interoperability of payment solutions will be guaranteed. Google itself is developing an open standard for desktop payment, which it calls the Payment Request API. The open nature of the standard allows the said API to be implemented not only in Google Chrome but practically across all the different browsers used around the globe. It will also seamlessly support as many payment methods as possible. Google describes the said API as a “process layer” which aims to allow the browser to act as an intermediary between the user, merchants, and payment services. By adopting the API, Google hopes that the payment communication flow in desktops will be standardized, reducing or even eliminating the need for lengthy checkout forms before a purchase.
While it is working to develop a desktop implementation of its payment method, Google is still working hard to ensure compatibility of its mobile payment service with more banks and financial institutions in numerous markets around the world. Just recently, Google launched its payment service in Canada and Russia. The search giant is also working to improve the security and user experience of Android Pay. Recently, a teardown of the Android Pay app shows that the payment service may support facial recognition soon, providing users with more options to secure their financial transactions.