It's been a while since we've heard any big news regarding Google Wallet, but that changes today. Google has announced that Wallet now supports all credit and debit cards from the likes of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Previously the app would only work with Citi MasterCards and Google Prepaid Cards. Google also switched up the way that Wallet stores card information. It now saves those details on Google's servers rather than the secure storage on a user's phone. When linking a card to the Wallet app, users will have their card information linked to a virtual MasterCard card, supplied by The Bancorp Bank. Google Wallet will then use this virtual MasterCard when users make a purchase, which will then charge the amount to the user's actual linked card.
Additionally, Google has added the ability for users to remotely disable Google Wallet on a lost phone. Users can simply visit the "Devices" section of the Wallet website and then select which piece of hardware they'd like to disable. Once disabled, Wallet will no longer authorize transactions with that device. Google also says that if the Wallet online service can get a connection with your disabled device, it'll remotely wipe your card and transaction data.
While the method for using non-Citi MasterCards with Google Wallet may not be quite as simple on the backend of things, the fact that all cards are now compatible with the service is great, and I'm betting that more folks will be willing to give Wallet a go now that they can use any card they'd like. Of course, Wallet is still only officially supported on a handful of devices, so today's news won't mean much unless you've got one of those products (or a device that you've been able to unofficially finagle Wallet onto). If you do have Wallet on your device, you can find the new app in the Google Play store right now. How many of you have used Google Wallet before? Do you plan to use it (or use it more, if you already have) now that all cards are supported?
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