Google, Microsoft, Samsung digital wallets integrate with online banking services

Partnerships between major technology companies and payment technology companies, have made online transactions more convenient to the end user, as well as merchants. Mastercard announced that it had integrated Masterpass into Samsung Pay, Microsoft Wallet and Android Pay by Google. Microsoft too, announced the strategic partnership with Masterpass. Google announced that Android Pay would support both Visa Checkout and Mastercard Masterpass. Visa has opened up its digital payment service to online wallets, and announced Google as one of its first customers. Jim McCarthy, executive vice president of innovation and strategic partnerships, Visa Inc said “As more connected devices proliferate across the market and become part of our everyday lives, Visa is ensuring secure and easy payments can be embedded in any environment. Similar to walking into a store and paying with a Visa card, Visa Checkout’s open platform gives consumers more choice in how they want to pay and merchants and issuers the ability to offer a highly familiar, consistent payment experience that represents security and trust wherever it’s used across the web.” Pali Bhat, global head of payments products for Google, commented on the integration with Visa Checkout. “With this partnership, Android Pay and Visa Checkout will deliver a frictionless purchase experience at thousands of online merchants that support Visa Checkout. We look forward to extending the reach of Android Pay by giving online shoppers even more ways to use Android Pay across the web.” On the partnership with Mastercard, Bhat had made a similar statement “With this partnership, Android Pay and Masterpass will deliver a seamless purchase experience at thousands of merchants that support Masterpass. We’re excited to extend the reach of Android Pay by giving online shoppers even more ways to use Android Pay across the web.” Eric Lockard, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft said “We’re excited to bring Masterpass to Microsoft Wallet users. Masterpass provides an additional payment option for our customers who look to the Microsoft Wallet to conveniently checkout at their favourite online shopping sites.” Thomas Ko, VP and Global GM, Samsung Pay, Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics, said, “We are thrilled to be working with Mastercard to bring online payments to the masses and make the online shopping experience as convenient and seamless as possible. Through our partnership, our users will be able to simply and securely make payments across their devices and enjoy a variety of benefits all through Samsung Pay.” Garry Lyons, Chief Innovation Officer at Mastercard said “Mastercard is working to ensure that every one of our accounts is as digital as the people using them. Enabling our cardholders to use digital wallets to shop online via Masterpass is the latest example of our work – alongside our banks, merchants and digital partners – to deliver rich, innovative, compelling and secure ways to pay and get paid across all channels and devices, redefining commerce globally.” The integration for Visa Checkout and Mastercard Masterpass are expected to roll out on the Android Pay app by early 2017. Users of Windows 10 desktops, mobile phones and tablets will be able to use Mastercard Masterpass, also starting in early 2017. Masterpass is available in 33 countries as of now and is expected to be available in 35 countries by the end of the year.