Google’s Android Pay has arrived and it is set to rival Samsung Pay and Apple Pay. This technology will work all over the U.S. and include partnerships with big brands like Best Buy, Walgreens, Whole Foods and Subway. In an article for TechCrunch, Sarah Perez (@sarahintampa) details this new payments platform.

Any user who uses Google Wallet will have automatic access to Android Pay by updating their Wallet app. Those who don’t have Google Wallet will be able to download Android Pay off Google Play. Unlike the release of Google Wallet which brought forth lots of opposition from mobile carriers, Android Pay has been created due to partnerships with mobile operators. Google acquired Softcard earlier this year which was a joint venture by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and as a result of the acquisition, the three mobile carriers offered to load the Google Wallet app on Android smartphones.

Android Pay will pick up where Google Wallet left off by providing a mobile payments solution that allows consumers to pay using their smartphones at stores, and also allows for digital payments. With the new Android “Marshmallow” operating system, users can authorize their payments via fingerprint (though PIN, password and patterns are all options too). Similar to Apple Pay, when making a payment, consumers only have to unlock their phone. Both technologies use a virtual account number as a security measure rather than just sending the credit/debit card information directly to stores; however, Android Pay sends these virtual numbers to the cloud whereas Apple Pay generates the virtual number in a chip called the Secure Element.

The in-app functionality of Android Pay is set to roll out later this year. In the words of Pali Bhat, Director of Product Management at Google,

“Today we’re starting to roll out Android Pay, bringing our next generation mobile payments platform to Android users across the U.S. Mobile payments is an important area for Google, and this is just the beginning for Android Pay. We have a great set of partners that have contributed to the launch of Android Pay, and we’ll continue to work closely with the entire ecosystem to make paying with your Android phone simple, secure, and available everywhere.”

This announcement has brought a lot of anticipation and excitement, and we can’t wait to see how Android Play rolls out!