Google’s new Android Pay: Q&A

On Thursday, Google introduced Android Pay, which will power in-app and tap-to-pay purchases on mobile devices. Here are some comments from Pat Dermody, president of Retale, a location-based mobile platform connecting shoppers with their favorite local retailers, on the new feature:

On the launch: “The launch of Android Pay is obviously in response to the traction Apple Pay has generated thus far.”



On the impact at retail: “Roughly half of the market just received a new option to pay that for the most part, they didn’t have before. While mobile pay overall has been somewhat slow to take off, greater accessibility can only have a positive impact on the adoption curve of consumers.”



On Apple Pay: “Android Pay isn’t going to threaten Apply Pay at the launch. Given the level of adoption, I would hypothesize that very few people will go Android simply because of Android Pay. What it does do however, is remove a potential disadvantage.



For example, if someone was leaning toward purchasing an Android smartphone, but saw the previous lack of Android Pay as an issue, that could weigh against it but again, given the current level of adoption, it was probably not an immediate deal-breaker.”



On Google Wallet: “Timing is everything when it comes to product and service launches and history revealed that Google Wallet was ahead of its time. A payment system popularized by the Apple will definitely have a positive halo effect on Android Pay.”



On the mobile payment market: “The launch of Android Pay is a definite positive sign for the mobile payment market overall. Greater availability on the two biggest platforms is an indicator that the market is well positioned to expand.”