Google's digital wallet service now covers digital IDs and broadens its scope of application.
Google Wallet, the digital payment platform, is making strides in the digital identification (ID) sector. The service is now introducing digital ID support for users in the United Kingdom and certain U.S. states.
In the U.S., residents of Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico can now use their mobile IDs at Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations. This move marks a significant step towards digital transformation, as users can ditch their physical wallets for a more streamlined experience.
Google Wallet is also making inroads into the European market. Through the EUDI-Wallet system, the platform will support digital ID in all 27 EU countries. This move enables secure, interoperable, and legally valid digital identities for Europeans. Google has expressed its focus on EU-wide integration, but further expansions to other countries have not been explicitly detailed.
In the UK, Google is considering certification with the digital identity trust framework from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. If successful, consumers could potentially use their Google Wallet ID passes for alcohol purchases.
Google is not limiting the use of digital IDs to just identification documents. The platform currently allows users to store tickets, prepaid cards, and payment methods in one central location. With the emergence of digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Wallet, the landscape of payments has significantly changed in recent years.
As digital IDs continue to gain traction, digital wallets could eventually house all the same components as their physical counterparts. This could accelerate the growth of digital wallets, contributing to their growing adoption.
However, the widespread use of digital wallets is not yet a reality. One reason for the slow adoption is that U.S. consumers are comfortable with physical payment cards and haven't found a compelling reason to use their phones for payments. Another factor is that consumers still need to carry their physical wallets to hold identification.
Google is working to address these issues. The company is planning to expand its reach to 50 more countries and is exploring potential use cases for its digital IDs, including Amazon account recovery, access to online health services, and identity verification on platforms like Uber.
In the U.S., Google Wallet can create an ID Pass from a passport that meets Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security requirements for domestic travel at supported airports.
As Google Wallet continues to evolve, it's clear that digital wallets have the potential to revolutionise the way we manage our personal information and make transactions. The future of digital wallets looks promising, with continued improvements in technology and user experience.
