NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Google officially launched Android Pay in the U.S., its host card emulation-based rival to Apple Pay and its second stab at rolling out NFC payments for in-store payments, following its little-used Google Wallet.

Unlike the former NFC versions of Google Wallet, which now can be used only for peer-to-peer payments, Android Pay will have a much broader set of devices with which U.S. users can tap to pay and more places for them to tap. Google also said it will soon expand the service to loyalty and special offers with a single tap. And later in the year, it will expand Android Pay functionality to in-app purchases. Google had announced the coming of Android Pay last March and detailed the planned service more fully in May. 

As it previously announced, Google said Thursday that four major U.S. payments brands, Visa, MasterCard Worldwide, American Express and Discover Financial Services, will accept Android Pay. AmEx and Discover will also issue cards for the wallet, along with such large issuers as Bank of America and U.S. Bank, as well as Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC, Regions Bank, and USAA. Other major U.S. issuers Wells Fargo, Capital One and Citi cards will be added soon, said Google. Not on the list of banks that Google mentioned Thursday was JPMorgan Chase, among the largest issuers in the U.S. and a participant in both Apple Pay and the now-defunct Softcard wallet. Google had listed Chase as a participant in Android Pay back in May.