Google teased earlier this month that Android Pay would be coming soon to Canada, and now it looks like the service is ready to launch.
Android Pay is starting its rollout in Canada today, May 31st. Google will be adding support for top banks in Canada over the coming days, with support for more features, banks, and stores launching in the coming months.
To start, Android Pay will be gaining support for eligible Visa and MasterCard credit cards from BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, Banque Nationale, Scotiabank, Desjardins, President’s Choice Financial, ATB Financial, and Canadian Tire Financial Services in Canada, as well as prepaid Scotiabank and Desjardins cards. Support for Interac debit cards will start rolling out on Monday, and support for American Express and cards and Tangerine will come this summer.
Google is also teaming up with payment platforms, processors, and tech providers like Moneris, Bambora, Chase, Cybersource, First Data, Global Payments, Paysafe, WorldPay and Stripe.
When it comes to stores, Android Pay users in Canada will be able to visit Tim Hortons, Loblaws, Petro-Canada, McDonald’s, Indigo, Pizza Pizza, Sears Canada, Telus, Rogers, and Freedom Mobile stores and use their phone to make payments. Android Pay will also be supported in apps like 1-800-Flowers, Atom, B&H, DoorDash, Fancy, Hotel Tonight, Lululemon, PayRange, Ritual, Shopify, and Uber.
To use Android Pay, you’ll need an Android device that’s running 4.4 KitKat or higher and also includes NFC support. You’ll then need to install the Android Pay app from the Play Store.
Android Pay is a nice feature to have, letting you leave your wallet in your pocket or purse and simply tapping your phone to a terminal to pay. Android Pay originally launched in the US in September 2015, and since then we’ve seen it expand to other places like the UK and Hong Kong. Now Android Pay is launching in Canada, and it’s good to see Google continuing to expand its mobile payment service to major parts of the globe.
