Google Wallet now supports major debit and credit cards

We've all heard about Google Wallet, an NFC-based payment system that allows you to make payments with one tap. Now the search giant has overhauled this service by releasing an update to the Google Wallet app whereby you can now pay using all major debit and credit cards.

The cloud-based version of Google Wallet now supports Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards. You can now shop online or in stores by tapping your smartphone to pay for a cup of coffee or maybe a cab ride.

This is how it works. Once you download the free Google Wallet app to your Android device, you can save a card by entering in the number. You can also opt to do so by going online or through Google Play. After making a payment in a store, a receipt will pop up on your phone with the merchant name and total charge.

Making the announcement via a blog, Google stated,"To support all credit and debit cards, we changed our technical approach to storing payment cards. The Google Wallet app now stores your payment cards on highly secure Google servers, instead of in the secure storage area on your phone. A wallet ID (virtual card number) is stored in the secure storage area of the phone, and this is used to facilitate transactions at the point of sale. Google instantly charges your selected credit or debit card."

Banks who want to serve their customers in saving cards can apply for free online. Further, to ensure customers of their security and boost confidence in Google Wallet, there's an option to remotely disable the service in case your phone is lost or stolen. The company, this time round has made efforts to assure users of the app of its security. Now a dedicated Google Wallet PIN is used to prevent anyone else from making payments with your Google Wallet.

The free app is available for download from the Google Play store.

Here's a video from Google showcasing the usage of Google Wallet.