Google’s Android Pay is now available in Russia as of Wednesday (May 24), which means users can make mobile purchases across all of the 11 time zones.
According to a report citing Google, thousands of places in Russia, including Magnit, Perekrestok, Starbucks, KFC and Rosneft already accept Android Pay. What’s more, consumers in Russia shopping online with apps such as Lamoda, OneTwoTrip or Rambler-Kassa can checkout with Android Pay and don’t have to worry about entering payment details. Google said it teamed with several payment processors in the country to make it easier for Russian merchants to accept Android Pay.
The move to add Russia to the countries where Android Pay is accepted comes at a time when Google is making a flurry of announcements on that front.
In April, Android Pay announced new partnerships with a handful of banks from around the globe, including Bank of America, USAA, Bank of New Zealand, Discover and mBank. According to Google, the mobile payment technology will be integrated into the service of the banks’ own mobile apps, making it the first time Android Pay is being made available within mobile banking apps, TechCrunch reported. While the integration may vary depending on the specific mobile banking app, the essential focus will be on enabling cards to be added to Android Pay from within the banking app. As the report pointed out, the partnership expansions will enable Android Pay to reach an additional avenue of distribution. The hope is that customers will notice the payment option within their mobile banking app and possibly show interest in testing out mobile payments from there.
“This latest collaboration with banks expands Android Pay’s capabilities as an open platform and moves us closer toward our goal of empowering mobile payments everywhere. We’re continuing to integrate with additional mobile banking apps, so look for updates from your bank about this new feature,” Pali Bhat, global head of Payments Products for Google, said in a blog post.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More