Google Assistant, the intelligent personal assistant integrated into Google Home, the Allo app, Google Pixel and Android Wear, looks set to follow through on its December 2016 tease of offering a payments service as part of its tool suite.
There had been rumours of Google developing the function for its assistant circulating for months, but the first physical evidence of the development appeared on Wednesday night, when some Google Pixel owners discovered the new setting allowing them to enter credit card and address information for future purchases.
The upgrade was not present on Tuesday when the beta of version 6.13 of the app began rolling out.
There is currently no actual way of making payments using the Google Assistant function, but with the development clearly so much further advanced that had previously been thought, it will surely not be long before third party developers are given access to the function, which will quickly make payments possible.
Opening the new payments function brings you to a page that gives you the option of entering payment and delivery info, including a tutorial. Users have to agree to the Google Payments terms and conditions, and in addition to the terms of Google’s home delivery service Google Express.
Whitepapers
Related reading
Bank of Canada: Digital currencies raise stability questions
Financial stability is a key talking point within central banks as they discuss the possibility of launching digital currencies. “The one thing ... read more
SunTec CEO: Bank branches need to become Apple stores
The bank branch of the future must become an experience centre like Apple stores, according to SunTec CEO Nanda Kumar. In August, ... read more
2020 hailed “year of contactless” by payments study
By Richard Young The coronavirus crisis has caused a surge in mobile and contactless payments, driving consumers to make fewer but larger ... read more
Competition grows over US real-time payments
By Richard Young As the Federal Reserve progresses with plans to launch real-time payments (RTP) system FedNow, its main competitor in the ... read more
