Android Pay Is Now Live In Canada

While Android Pay has been available in the US for several years now, our northern neighbors in Canada can now finally make use of the mobile payments system. Google officially began rolling out Android Pay in the country earlier this week, including support for a number of banks, shops, and restaurants. The good news is that it will work at almost of the tap-to-pay terminals across Canada, but there are a few big name banks to take note of that haven't offered support yet.

As of now Android Pay is compatible with MasterCard and Visa credit cards, as well as debit cards from the banks CIBC, BMO, Scotiabank, Desjardins, and ATB Financial. However, two of Canada's biggest financial institutions, Royal Bank and TD, are not compatible with Android Pay. Both of these banks do support Apple Pay, so it's more than likely they'll be on board at some point in the near future. Also noteworthy is that support for American Express cards is listed as "coming soon."

Among the shops and fast food locations that will accept Android Pay include Tim Hortons, McDonald's, Petro-Canada, Pizza Pizza, Sears Canada, Loblaws, Rogers, TELUS, and Freedom Mobile. The system will also be accepted within a number of mobile apps like Uber, 1-800 Flowers, HotelTonight, and Lululemon.

Android Pay can be used on any mobile device Android 4.4 and up, and, like Apple Pay, it uses NFC technology to wirelessly and securely transfer a user's payment information to a retailer's payment terminal. Canada marks the 12th country for Android Pay to reach, with other recent additions including Russia, Taiwan, Australia, and Singapore.

SOURCE Google