Google Wallet was the original Apple Pay. The service held user's credit card data and acted as a Paypal alternative that could save users money and time. However, Google has difficulties transitioning it into the mainstream. Most outlets still don't accept Wallet at the checkout stand. In light of Apple Pay's quickly expanding control of the mobile payment market, Google is looking to take Wallet to the next level.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Google is currently working to boost Wallet in order to reach the same popularity levels as Apple Pay. The company is currently talking with carriers, banks and device design companies about adding Wallet functionality to their devices. Google hopes to launch the updated Wallet service sometime in May.
However, not everyone wants to help Google with this endeavor. Obviously, Apple has put more emphasis on Apple Pay than on whether the Google Wallet app is compatible. On top of that, Samsung doesn't want to help either, considering that it announced plans to use the recently acquired LoopPay as its own mobile payment service in March.
While some reports make it seem like Google Wallet is mostly dead, reports show that the service doubled its user base after Apple Pay was announced and payments increased 50 percent. However, Google's decision to remove the API that let developers use Wallet to pay for their digital products may harm them in the long run.
