As with Apple Pay, not all cards and banks work with Google’s payment solution.

Android Pay is also is working on new features, including the ability to use loyalty cards and special offers.

Over the past week, details about Google’s new mobile payment system broke as Google officially launched Android Pay, with a flurry of retailers stating their support for the service either immediately or in the coming days following Google’s announcement. “As almost every device has become – or is on its way to becoming – a shopping device, we’re delighted to be able to bring consumers even more choices in how, when and where they want to pay”. Like Apple Pay is built into iPhones, Android Pay will be integrated into smartphones running Googles mobile operating system. Meanwhile, Samsung Pay, the Korean handset maker’s alternative to both systems is also beginning an global roll out.

“We know how important it is to keep your personal and financial information secure, so Android Pay is supported by industry standard tokenization”, Pali Bhat, director of product management at Android Pay, said in a blog post. Through this, the real credit or debit card number isn’t sent or transferred to the store with the payment transaction.

Unlike Apple Pay, Android Pay does not require a fingerprint scanner to authorize payments, though if your phone supports it you can use this to authenticate your purchase. If a purchase has been made, the token will be creating a new token, which will be used temporarily to complete the transaction.

With Android Pay going live, Google Wallet, Google’s other NFC payment app, will be getting a major overhaul.

The app can be secured in Android Device Manager, in cases of stolen or lost phones.

Set to come to United Kingdom handsets in the near future, Android Pay will be available on mobile devices featuring an NFC chip for contactless payments and the Androidware platform KitKat 4.4 or higher. Issuing banks and credit unions now include American Express, Bank of America, Discover, Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC, Regions Bank, USAA, and U.S. Bank.

Shoppers can use their Android phone to pay in stores wherever they see Android Pay logo or an NFC logo, and with thousands of Android Pay partner apps.

Google is betting Android Pay will help its smartphones lure more consumers.

I love the improvement from Google mostly with the introduction of various great apps to its services.