Tech giant Google made an announcement on Feb 22nd on the official blog regarding the discontinuation of the original iteration of the Google Pay app, fondly known as ‘GPay,’ in the United States on June 5th 2024. The app has been recognized globally for its prominent role in seamless digital payments and financial exchanges. However, this decision exclusively impacts users in the United States, thereby offering reassurance to users in India and Singapore.
The company outlined that the move is geared towards enhancing user experience, leading to the discontinuation of the standalone Google Pay app in the US. Google Pay users will also be required to shift to Google Wallet before the June deadline.
Google Pay’s closure
Launched in India during September 2017 and November 2020 in the United States, GPay has played a significant role over the years in revolutionizing digital payment ecosystems across regions. As the app prepares to bid farewell, Google has ceased its peer-to-peer payment feature. According to the latest blog post, once the app shuts down in the US, users across America won’t have the option to engage in monetary transactions via the app.
Google suggests that users in the US to migrate to the Google Wallet app. Reassuringly, the company promises continuous updates and assistance during this transitional phase. Indian and Singaporean users of the Google Pay app will experience seamless continuity, with the company diligently tailoring its services to meet the unique requirements of these regions.
“As of June 4, 2024, you will no longer be able to send, request or receive money from others through the US version of the Google Pay app” the blog post highlighted. However, the Google Wallet still remains functional and and users can access it for in-store payments, boarding passes, transit tickets, loyalty card storage, digital driver’s licenses, and even the convenience of starting a car via a digital key.
