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News: Visa Invests in Digital Solutions for Android Users - Credit-Land.com

Visa has teamed up with financial institutions to bring “wave-and-pay” technology to Android users, so now just like iPhone users they can pay for things with a wave of their phone.

BBVA and Cuscal have already launched new issuer-branded mobile payment applications designed for Android based phones.  U.S. Bank, Banco do Brazil, and PNC Bank, N.A., will be launching similar apps in the coming months. This is seen as a major win for Android users, who can now do more with their phones.

“We are very proud that Visa’s Digital Solution is now accessible to the broader market to be used across multiple devices and form factors – enabling secure, fast and engaging commerce experiences in any environment,” said Sam Shrauger, senior vice president of digital solutions at Visa Inc.

Getting in on the action with Android

Android users can now head over to the Google Play store to download the new “wave-and-pay” apps created by their bank. Users follow the prompts to enroll in the program.

At that point they can begin using the app in stores to pay for merchandise, food, or anything else using their Visa accounts. When checking out at the register instead of handing over their Visa card, they wave their Android phone in front of the reader in a similar fashion as iPhone users do when paying with Apple Pay.

Back to the future Visa Style

Visa first introduced its technology at the Mobile World Congress last year. It is based on Host Card Emulation (HCE) software, a new feature which has been integrated into the Android Mobile operating system. It gives any near-field-communication (NFC) application downloaded into an Android based device the ability to imitate a smart card.

Visa’s Digital Solutions has created other payment systems and applications, including Visa's Token Service, which plays an integral role in making it possible for Apple Pay to expedite digital payments.

Visa Inc. is a global payments technology company. It provides electronic payments and systems to consumers, financial institutions, governments and business in over 200 countries worldwide.