Google has announced that its smartphone payment system, Android Pay, which is currently only available in the US, will be launched in the UK in the next few months.
Android Pay is Google’s competitor to other similar payment tools such as Apple Pay, which allows you to pay for items and services in places which accept contactless payments, by associating your credit and debit cards with your phone.
At launch, Android Pay will be compatible with MasterCard and Visa debit and credit cards from the following banks and building societies:
- Bank of Scotland
- First Direct
- Halifax
- HSBC
- Lloyds Bank
- M&S Bank
- MBNA
- Nationwide
As was the case with the Apple Pay launch, Barclays is the most notable absentee from the list of banks available on Android Pay.
You’ll be able to use Android Pay anywhere you can make contactless payments, which includes stores such as Starbucks, Greggs and Waitrose, as well as on the Transport for London network of services. You’ll also be able to use it to make payments in a number of apps.
Android Pay will require a smartphone running Android 4.4 and above. Once a