With mobile payment usage on the rise, apps, providers and traditional merchants are transitioning towards more standardisation and integration. Google described its new relationship with PayPal as a “strategic collaboration” that’ll mutually benefit both companies.
For Google, having PayPal available as a payment type in Android Pay could expand the service’s appeal. People who regularly pay online using PayPal will be able to continue using the platform in physical stores, enjoying the company’s protection systems in the process.
From PayPal’s perspective, a presence in one of the leading mobile payment solutions will ensure it’s ready to migrate to the era of mobile payments, rather than being bound to the Internet. With PayPal already a recognised icon on thousands of digital checkouts, it’ll now be able to extend its presence to brick-and-mortar stores.
Adding a PayPal account to Android Pay is as simple as linking a regular card. Once the two are connected, PayPal will show up as a payment option when using Android Pay to checkout. You’ll be able to pay with PayPal by tapping your phone against the receiver, bypassing lengthy cash checkout queues and sending the bill to your existing account.
“Millions of people already use their PayPal account to make online purchases, receive payments and send money to friends and family,” said Google. “Soon they can start using the same PayPal account to tap and pay with their phones in stores and speed through checkout in Android apps.”
Before today’s announcement, PayPal had previously announced it was adding mobile payments support to its own mobile app. Back in February, the company unveiled NFC compatibility for the PayPal app on Android devices. It allows tap-and-pay purchases at most mobile checkouts.
Integration with Android Pay will enable the service to reach many more users though. The expanded audience will include people who often pay with card and only occasionally need to use PayPal, or vice versa.
PayPal is currently only available to Android Pay users in the U.S. It’ll start rolling out to both the Android Pay and PayPal apps “within the next few weeks.” There’s no word on when it’ll come to other regions where the two services are available but a wider expansion in the future does seem probable.