Google has rolled out a version of its mobile wallet for the iPhone, despite the handset’s lack of NFC capabilities.
The launch of the Google app for iOS will attempt to pull people away from Apple’s native Passbook mobile wallet app.
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Google Wallet allows its users to send money and make purchases on some mobile websites by storing a debit or credit card account on the app. Payment information can also be stored in Passbook.
In adition, both Google Wallet and Passbook allow users to store loyalty cards from some merchants and scan coupons offering discounts.
When Google wallet launched in 2011 it was expected to ignite the mobile wallet and NFC payment revolution which has since not materialised.
Apple’s decision to not include NFC technology in their iPhone line is thought to have held back the move to mobile payments.
The move on to iOS comes after Google overhauled the app, opening it up to all Android devices running version 2.3 or higher and AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon subscribers.
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