Our phones hold a lot of our personal information, including payment cards like credit or debit cards. So it’s not surprising that we’re starting to see more countries around the world accept digital forms of ID, saving users the hassle of bringing their physical cards around. Now, it looks like Google is expanding that feature by bringing Google Wallet Digital ID to Europe.
Google Wallet Digital ID is coming to Europe
Google made the announcement at Money 20/20 Europe in Amsterdam. While the company did not explicitly state which countries in Europe would get Google Wallet Digital ID support, Biometric Update claims it will arrive for users in Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, and Estonia. This means users there will be able to scan their passport to create a verified digital pass inside the app. Google says it rolls out some time this summer, but no specific date has been confirmed.
The setup works the same way it does in the US and UK. You record a short video selfie and scan your government ID. Google checks whether the two match, then adds the digital pass.
That being said, this doesn’t replace your physical passport at EU border control. The digital ID is mainly for online age verification and identity checks. You will still need a physical passport if you plan to travel overseas.
A more secure checkout experience
Google also announced changes to how Google Wallet handles online payments. The new Google Pay direct checkout brings your saved payment options straight to a retailer’s checkout page. This is similar to how Apple Pay works on supported sites. It’s available now for merchants using Airwallex, with Adyen support coming soon.
Google is also updating its Secure Payment Authentication feature for European shoppers. Anyone who’s bought something on a European site knows the drill. When you click “Place order,” you have to jump through a series of extra steps to verify your identity. According to Google, the updated SPA feature cuts those hurdles down significantly.
Google says testing found authentication time dropped by 50% and conversions went up by 3%. The rollout covers Visa, Checkout.com, Autopay, and Adyen in the UK and Poland over the coming months.
The post Google Wallet Is Bringing Digital IDs to Europe This Summer, With More Wallet Upgrades in Tow appeared first on Android Headlines.
