Google began the rollout of Google Pay on Tuesday. The new app
for Android devices combines Android Pay and Google Wallet into one service. The new payment information that users save in their Google accounts will become available throughout Google's
services.
The real question remains whether cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin and Ethereum will become an option to pay for services from its new unified payments system. And will Google allow
marketers pay for advertising services through cryptocurrency?
Microsoft restored Bitcoin payments for its online store in early January after removing the option in December. When asked
whether Microsoft would take cryptocurrency payments for Bing Ads, a spokesperson did not confirm or deny whether it was a possibility. "Bing Ads does not currently take Bitcoin today as a form
of payment," she said.
While there is no credible evidence that
Google plans to accept cryptocurrency as payment for services, the company does plan to host a lecture on the Fundamentals and Some Recent Innovations in Crypto-Currencies at the Polytechnic
University of Milan, Italy.
The lecture, scheduled for March 8, prefaces a two-day recruitment event, where
those who work at Google will share details about the company, its hiring process, and open positions.
Blockchain-related courses have begun to spring up in a variety of universities, and
blockchain legislation has begun to surface in bills passing the House of
Representatives, specifically in Wyoming.
As for Google Pay, the feature has a new Home tab that allows users to see their most recent purchases, find nearby stores, gain easy access to
rewards, and get helpful tips.
New features are on the way. Within the next few months, consumers living in the United States of in the United Kingdom will be able to use Google Pay to send
and request money. In the meantime, the Wallet app is now called Google Pay Send.