SL;DR
- Google Wallet may be getting ready to make a comeback.
- The app and its functionality were bundled with Google Pay a few years ago.
- Wallets can once again become a place to store your cards and other digital tickets.
Google discontinued the Wallet name in 2018 when it announced Google Pay. Finally, the functionality is also wrapped up in the Pay app, and Wallet is gone. Now, it seems that Google is bringing Wallet back to life, but not as a standalone app.
Based on Mishaal Rahman, Google builds Wallet UI for Google Play Services. It will act as a home for all your digital cards, gift cards and other things like AMC rebates, airline tickets, etc. Rahman also posted detailed screenshots of how the new Wallet UI looks.
So how is it different from Google Pay? Rahman reports that Pay will still be your go-to app for contactless payments, but Wallet will be the interface that stores all of your cards.
Currently, you can manage most of your cards in Google Pay. The screenshot above shows that you can access the Wallet UI from within the app. Cards stored in your Wallet can also be accessed on other Google services as one of the screenshots says, “learn how cards in your Wallet will appear across Google.”
So in the simplest terms, Wallet will be the place for your cards, while Google Pay will help you make payments. Confused? Hopefully, Google should be able to clear things up when it makes Wallet official again.
