NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Google has expanded Android Pay to yet another small international market, with the launch in Ireland today, with participation from one of the four biggest Irish banks, along with networks Visa and Mastercard.
Today’s launch marks the rollout of one of the first mobile payments service deployed in Ireland and the entrance of "Pays" into a small market where contactless payments are on the rise, Visa confirmed to NFC Times. Android Pay is the first mobile payments service supported by Mastercard in the small republic, as well, a spokesman told NFC Times.
Cardholders are making over 5 million contactless payments per month, so backing Android Pay was important to widen customer choice, Allied Irish Banks or AIB, the lone major bank supporting Android Pay at launch, said in a statement. Google promises to enroll more banks in coming months.