Android Pay gets four UK OKs
Buy British
Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank have all launched on Android Pay in the UK today (13 September), with TSB “coming soon”.
The development follows hot on the heels from last week, when US-based Chase Bank customers were able to add their eligible Chase Visa cards to Android Pay. The cards include Freedom, Slate, Sapphire, United Mileage Explorer and Hyatt Credit Card.
It’s been a fast-paced year for Android Pay.
Australia and New Zealand-based banking group, ANZ, was the first bank to launch Android Pay in Australia.
In fact, Android Pay arrived in the UK earlier this year. Retailers like Boots, Waitrose and Starbucks are already onboard, and so is Transport for London (i.e. underground, buses and trains).
It also launched in Singapore, making it the first country in Asia to get the system. Singapore was chosen as the third market worldwide after the US and UK due to the number of mobile phone users and highly developed infrastructure.
However, not everyone has declared their undying love for Android Pay. Barclays launched its own mobile contactless on Android, and confirmed it will not be joining Android Pay.
Finally, on Twitter, the blah blah base of the bovine and banal, some “customers” were cajoling the likes of Barclays and American Express to hop on board the Android Pay bandwagon. Is anyone able to avoid Android? We’ll probably find out soon.
