If you’ve been dreaming of a day when smartphones make billfolds as obsolete as they’ve made beepers, calculators, and point-and-shoot digital cameras, it’s almost time to wake up. Digital payment platforms like Google Wallet are so much more than simple tap and pay apps these days, with some states even letting you import official government IDs and drivers licenses. And whilesupport for transit passeshas already been strong, Google just announced some new features that should make it even easier to manage your commute in Wallet.
Currently, commuters in places like London, New York, and Sydney frequently use what’s called the open-loop payment method, allowing them to utilize any card from their wallet — be it physical or digital — for transit payments. This approach, while highly convenient, sometimes leaves individuals guessing about their transit expenditures over the course of days or weeks.
Addressing this gap,Google Wallet is developing a featurethat will display users' ride history and the savings accrued versus time-based fare caps. Additionally, transit agencies will be able to keep users informed about things like potential service alterations or promotional fares. This capability will first appear with Brighton and Hove Buses in the UK soon, and there’s a plan to introduce it to more cities in the next year.
Google has also teamed up with several transit organizations to make buying and keeping transit passes in Wallet easier. For instance, transit riders in Madrid can now buy and store their passes directly on their phones. And before long, folks in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region will have the option to integrate their ORCA transit cards with Google Wallet. This enhancement not only simplifies the experience but also gives users instant insights into their card balance and past transactions, helping them stay on top of their expenses.
Moreover, Google Wallet’s versatility extends beyond just transit passes. In some cities, riders are required to present tickets to drivers or fare inspectors. Many of these tickets, from agencies like SNCF in France, Hamburg HVV in Germany, and Italo in Italy, can now be saved directly to Google Wallet, a major step in making digital payments a universal reality for commuters.
For added convenience, though it doesn’t pertain directly to Wallet, Google has also expanded its ticketing options within Google Maps. Commuters can now plan multi-leg journeys and purchase all necessary tickets in one go, thanks to partnerships with over 250 ticketing entities globally.
Most of these moves further Google Wallet’s quest to completely replace the traditional billfold. Another advance Google recently made on this front was theexpansion of digital ID supportto more US states — namely, Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia. By covering your travel and commute needs in addition to replacing your credit cards and debit cards with its tap to pay functionality, Google Wallet hopes to usher in a future where you only need to take your smartphone with you when you go out.
