Google Wallet is rapidly becoming the preferred solution for all digital wallet requirements. It not only continuously integrates support for additional U.S. banks each month but also facilitates the easy storage and access of various passes, tickets, keys, and digital IDs.

Earlier this year, Google extended several Google Wallet capabilities to Wear OS watches, notably including PayPal integration for faster transactions and Pass Groups to improve the management and display of passes on these devices.

The recent deployment of Google Play Services v24.47 marks a significant expansion in the utility of Android wearables. As per Google’s latest release notes, this update enables users to store hotel keys, campus IDs, and corporate badges on their wearable devices, alongside the already supported bank cards, transit cards, and QR code or barcode-enabled passes.

Additionally, Google Wallet has extended its reach, now available in 97 countries on both Wear OS and Android smartphones. Users will need to update their devices to the latest Google Play services version to access these features. It should be noted, however, that while Google Wallet on Android smartphones can accommodate a variety of access cards like driver’s licenses and passports, these are unlikely to be supported on the smaller screens of Wear OS devices anytime soon.

Only NFC-equipped wearables can utilize these new features, a technology standard in top Android wearables. The rollout of Google Play services version 24.47 is underway but may not be immediately available to all users.

In further developments, Google plans to introduce tap-to-pay functionality in Family Link accounts for minors next year. This feature will allow children to make in-person purchases using their Android devices, with parents maintaining control over each card added to their child’s digital wallet. Modeled after similar features on devices like the Fitbit Ace LTE, this function will restrict spending to physical stores and enable parents to closely track their children’s spending habits.