Android Pay 1.4 is simplifying loyalty signups and app discovery
An update to version 1.4 includes a new button in the overflow menu that shows a specific list of apps that can tap into Android Pay. This means you’ll be able to easily find out the possibilities with Android Pay with a splashy promo, such as buying a sandwich from Grubhub, or catch an Uber ride without the need to fumble through your wallet for a credit card.
You can authenticate an Android Pay payment with your fingerprint or PIN. Many of the apps listed in this section also have a promo for using Android Pay for the first time, so it may be worth checking out.
Android Police also found a few hidden features that Google is working on in an APK teardown. The most interesting is a some type of method for locating stores near you that accept Android Pay. Potentially your location would pop up on a Google Map with the merchants’ stores.
Also, there’s an indication you may be able to sign up for loyalty programs right inside the app with auto-filled data. This way if you’re at a store and get inevitably bugged about joining their loyalty program, you could sign up right from your phone.
If you want to check out more about what’s coming, Google recently published this Android Pay session from I/O:
Why this matters: Android Pay, and mobile payments in general, have yet to really take off in the mainstream. So such subtle nudges by Google are designed to make the process easier and encourage you to try it out with freebies. The biggest detractor, however, is just getting more merchants to jump on board.