The progression of contactless payment technology in the past few years has led to a widened proliferation of new hardware and software services, all designed to take advantage of electronic payment platforms. Services like Google Pay and Apple Pay have greatly contributed to more mainstream adoption of modernized payment platforms, even influencing competitors in the process.
As such, Samsung has likewise wasted no time in updating its very own “Wallet” app – first introduced some years back, Samsung Wallet has seen some changes, and its resurgence has seen some new improvements along the way. More recently, Samsung announced that the app will be available in eight new regions, which include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, starting at the end of January. According to Jeanie Han, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team at Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics:
“When Samsung launched Samsung Wallet last year, we committed to building the experience through open partnerships with our business and service providers and ensuring access to the platform for as many people as possible. Over the past several months, we’ve worked hard to rapidly expand the availability of Samsung Wallet, bringing the platform to more potential users. We look forward to sharing exciting new developments in the year ahead.”
Samsung’s efforts in creating a more coherent ecosystem through hardware and software has seen a rapid growth, as the company introduces more products beyond its smart devices like phones and tablets. At CES 2023, the company also unveiled the SmartThings station, which is designed to serve as an all-in-one smart home hub (and a wireless charging pad as well), allowing users to control their home set-up from a single device.
The app comes with Samsung’s One UI software, and allows users to sort their digital keys, flight passes, and more, all through a single app. Samsung Wallet also integrates Knox security, and will work with Samsung Blockchain Wallet for cryptocurrency management and monitoring. Additionally, it will be able to work with SmartThings for smart home usage, and will support other IDs like driver’s licenses and student IDs.
Previously, Samsung Wallet was brought to more than 20 countries, including Bahrain, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vietnam, UAE, the U.K. and the U.S. Aside from these markets, Samsung hasn’t announced any further additions, but we imagine that could change in the coming months, so users looking forward to trying out the Wallet app should keep an eye out for any updates from the company.
