It looks like Google Wallet will become much more useful by supporting Apple Wallet files. It will finally be able to open and use tickets and passes created/stored in Apple’s proprietary .pkpass file format.
Android tipster Mishaal Rahman reported that the feature has been rolled out to some of his followers, with several replies confirming that they now have access. However, the feature doesn’t appear to be available to everyone yet, which could mean the rollout is limited to certain regions.
In the past, some tickets and passes only included an Apple Wallet link, which only works with iPhones, leaving Android users out in the cold.
The improved compatibility would save Google Wallet users from having to go through the trouble of finding reliable third-party apps to convert Apple cards. It could also prevent users from giving up on digital passes altogether and having to sift through emails to find ticket confirmations or go back to the hassle of printing paper tickets.
Google Wallet may soon be able to import digital passes saved in Apple’s .pkpass format! A user on Telegram tells me that Google Wallet can now import .pkpass files. However, I am still unable to do this. Let me know if this works for you! (Thanks to Cob on Telegram for… https://t.co/jjAL3o2mbA pic.twitter.com/O69NHNRs6LMarch 15, 2024
The post contains a recording from a user named Cob, showing the process of adding a work ID .pkpass file to Google Wallet. Using a file manager app, the user opens the .pkpass file and is presented with various app options that he can use to open the file.
After selecting Google Wallet, the user is asked for permission with a screen explaining that Google may maintain a register of passes for reference, while a Continue button appears at the bottom of the screen.
Once the user continues, a consent request about Google’s use of data will appear again. Once this has been agreed, the card is added to the digital wallet and we will see a QR code and see that all data has been copied correctly, including job titles, employee number contact details and an expiry date.
Digital wallets have become an increasingly integral part of our lives as we move away from physical currency and as phones, smartwatches and NFC payments have become ubiquitous. However, due to the popularity of Apple’s iPhone, Apple Wallet appears to be gaining somewhat mainstream adoption, while Google is catching up.
This is the second recent major change to Google Wallet, which replaces the previous app Google Pay, which will be discontinued in the US on June 4, 2024. It appears that Google is streamlining its payment apps, which could help it better compete with Apple.
Both Google and Apple Wallet apps have pros and cons, but are considered the best payment apps with Google Pay being released in 2011, which later became Google Wallet. And Apple Passbook was announced in 2012 and became Apple Wallet.