NFC Expert What smartphones does Android Pay work with
At the time of launch in Russia, the payment system works with Visa and MasterCard cards of the following banks: AK BARS Bank, Alfa-bank, Binbank, VTB-24, MTS Bank, Otkritie (and its constituents Rocketbank and Tochka), Promsvyazbank , Raiffeisen Bank, Rosselkhozbank, Russian Standard, Sberbank, Tinkoff Bank, as well as with Yandex. Money. Since its launch, the vast majority of large Russian offline retailers have supported the technology.
There is reason to believe that in the near future the list will be replenished, as it happened with the services of competitors. Apple Pay in the first month in Russia cooperated with only nine banks, and at the time of publication of the material, there were already 14 banks on the list (including Sberbank), plus the Yandex. Money. At first, Samsung also had an agreement with a small number of banks, and only MasterCard could be connected. Today, the technology is supported by Visa, and a total of 15 banks operating in Russia, plus the same Yandex. Money.
Android Pay will work even on some devices from the beginning of 2013: HTC One, Sony Xperia Z1, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3s and others. But not for everyone. For example, Nexus 7, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S3 do not have HCE. Most modern low-cost phones have N FC: Samsung Galaxy A3, LG G4s, Huawei P8 Lite, Sony Xperia XA.
Still, they often do not put it on phones up to 10 thousand rubles. You cannot pay with Samsung Galaxy J1, Acer Liquid Z520, Asus ZenFone Go, LG K5 and other budget models. Another important condition is that the phone must be without root access. On a hacked device, the application simply will not start. The craftsmen allegedly found a way to bypass the restriction, but we do not recommend doing this on your device.
Requirements for devices and payment terminals
The system requirements are very democratic: the smartphone must run on Android version 4.4 KitKat or higher, and, of course, have an NFC chip directly for making payments. But there are several important limitations that are associated with ensuring the confidentiality of payment data. First, the device must have official, Google-certified firmware installed.
Developer versions and third-party firmware are not supported by the system. Secondly, the bootloader must be locked, and root rights must be disabled. How to get around these restrictions, read in our material. Thirdly, several smartphone models are not supported (the full list can be found here), and the Knox service must be disabled on Samsung devices.
If all the requirements are met, Android Pay will be able to pay in the vast majority of terminals that support contactless payment. For example, VeriFone VX 820, popular in Russian stores, supports technology from Google. However, the presence of one of the following logos on the terminal will be a full guarantee.
Apple Pay, launched in Russia on October 4, 2016, also works with most contactless payment terminals, but not many devices support the technology. These are all iPhones released in 2014 or later (that is, those with an NFC chip), both generations of Apple Watch, and laptops with Touch ID (for online shopping).
Samsung Pay, which has been operating in Russia since September 29, 2016, is similarly supported by all flagships of the S and Note lines, starting from 2015 (with NFC on board), the A model range of 2016 and 2017, as well as “smart” Gear S3 watch. However, the South Korean service stands out from the competition with its Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology, which Samsung has exclusive rights to.
However, Samsung also sets a significant limitation: their payment service will work correctly in Russia only on devices certified by Rostest, that is, on “white” devices. If the device is “gray” or purchased abroad, you will have to play around a bit: install Russian firmware (SER region) or install the Russian framework, and then the Samsung Pay service itself.
Which cards are tied
At the time of launch, the system worked with Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards from 14 banks: AK Barsa, Alfa-Bank, Binbank, VTB24, MTS Bank, Otkritie Bank, Promsvyazbank ”, Raiffeisenbank, Rocketbank, Russian Standard Bank, Rosselkhozbank, Sberbank, Tinkoff, Tochka Bank.
Android Pay also supports Yandex. Money”. Later, other banks and the Mir payment system will most likely begin to cooperate with Android Pay (it is planned to be connected to the already working Apple Pay and Samsung Pay). In the USA, a PayPal account with all connected cards is linked to Android Pay. Perhaps, over time, such a function will appear in Russia.
How to pay with Android Pay
Like other systems, Android Pay works through the NFC protocol, so phone payments must go through wherever Visa and MasterCard contactless card payments work. Next to the terminals, there are usually icons for PayPass, PayWave, Apple Pay, Android Pay, or contactless payment systems. At the time of launch, partnerships with Android Pay were announced by Spar stores, Azbuka Vkusa, VkusVill, Karusel, Perekrestok, Pyaterochka, Magnit, M.
Video”, Lenta, Metro and H{amp}amp;M, Burger King, KFC, McDonald’s, Teremok, Starbucks, Double B, Shokoladnitsa, BP gas stations, ” Bashneft and Rosneft. This means that in these establishments there should be no problems with payment and cashiers who refuse to accept payment from the phone.
So, for example, the Moscow City Hall announced the possibility of traveling by metro and MCC for 1 ruble when buying a ticket via Android Pay. But the passengers discovered that 40 rubles were deducted from the cards and no refund was made.
Data Protection
The security technology of Android Pay is no different from that of Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. It is based on the principle of tokenization, when for each transaction in the “cloud” a unique set of characters is formed – a token – instead of the real details of the payment card connected to the service. This does not mean that every payment with Android Pay will require an internet connection.
Tokens are generated in advance when synchronizing the application with servers, stored in the device’s memory and “taken” from there when making a payment. Real data is encrypted, stored on Google servers and used only when generating tokens, that is, without being tied to any of the transactions. However, a large number of supported devices from different manufacturers means that Google will only protect data on its server and at the OS level, unlike Apple and Samsung, which allocate special storage for these purposes in each device.
Android Pay cryptosystem
Of course, the payment process itself is also protected. Android Pay doesn’t require you to scan your finger like it does on Apple devices (where it only asks for a password after a few failed scan attempts), which makes sense given the lack of a fingerprint scanner on many Android devices. The Google service uses the same security method as a screen lock, whether it’s a fingerprint scanner, PIN code, pattern or face recognition. If the screen lock is disabled on the device, Android Pay automatically erases the data about the connected card – they will have to be entered again.
In case of loss or if the device was stolen, you can remotely lock it, change the password or erase all data using the Android Device Manager service on any computer connected to the Web.
Apple Pay reasonably considers tokenization, Touch ID, and the Find My Phone remote lock service for a lost or stolen device to be sufficient to protect user payment information. Therefore, in addition to them, it clearly does not use any technologies.
Samsung Pay, in addition to tokens and biometric sensors, offers its own Knox security program. It also encrypts card data and monitors activity, alerting you to suspicious account transactions.
Application not installing
On May 23, when Android Pay was officially launched in Russia, some users discovered that the application was not available or did not work on their devices. The official Google support site lists smartphones that do not support Android Pay. Among them are Elephone P9000, Evo 4G LTE, Nexus 7 (2012), Samsung Galaxy Note III, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Light.
In addition to the models announced on the Google website, users of other devices from different brands encountered a problem when installing the Android Pay application. In particular, problems are observed on smartphones Meizu, Xiaomi, OnePlus and others.
Solution: for many popular devices, w3bsit3-dns.com forum users have already compiled detailed instructions for launching Android Pay. Perhaps a solution to the problem has already been found for your smartphone. How to find out:
- go to the topic about Android Pay and find your gadget through the search;
- go to the topic thread about your device, open the topic of your device and see the latest messages, as well as the topic header (don’t forget about the search function);
- go to the topic of flashing your smartphone and see the solution on the last pages or header.
Tip: even if your smartphone is on the list of unsupported devices, it makes sense to try installing Android Pay on it. For example, we personally tested the operation of Android Pay on the Galaxy S8 with the “incompatible” MyKnox function – everything worked, but before that, you need to set Android Pay as the main payment system in the device settings. In the case of other devices, go to the profile topic – it is possible that there is already a solution there.
To make purchases on the site or in the application using Android Pay, the retailer must place a special button. Of course, information for developers on this part, as well as on the entire service, is in the public domain. At the same time, the data is protected in the same way as when paying at the terminal, so there is still no need to worry about information leakage.
By clicking on the Pay button with a green robot, the user enters the Android Pay application, where he confirms the payment, and the purchase is almost instantly considered paid. Of course, the device must meet the requirements, and the user must be registered in the Android Pay system for a successful payment.
Apple and Samsung offer in-app purchases in exactly the same way. The store adds a corresponding button to its website and application, and the user can pay for the purchase, not only without looking into the wallet – without even leaving the current application. Of course, the button will be present only when using equipment that meets the requirements of Apple or Samsung, respectively.
Is it possible to pay from hours
How to start using Android Pay
First of all, you need to install the Android Pay application from the official Google store or from the apk file. The application interface is simple, intuitive and similar to other services of the company, so you won’t have to get used to anything. Of course, you can add several cards and assign the main one for payment by default.
After that, you can safely go to a store or website that supports contactless payments. To pay in a supermarket, it is enough to unlock the smartphone and bring it to the terminal without launching the application – the money will be debited from the card by default.
Results
Despite the fact that the mobile payment market in Russia has been occupied by Apple and Samsung for more than six months (and don’t forget about bank applications that also allow you to make payments using your smartphone), Android Pay has very good chances, at least on an equal footing take a place among other services, and there are three reasons for this.
First, the mobile payment market itself is growing all over the world, including in Russia, which means it is too early to talk about final segmentation. The second reason is the already mentioned number of Android devices, which are used by a significantly larger number of people than the flagships of Apple and Samsung. Finally, the third is a bet on loyalty programs that Google makes. Even before the launch of Android Pay in Russia, it became known about discounts for passage to the Moscow metro and the MCC using the application.
Users can only hope that this is not the last loyalty program, and that banks and stores will be willing to cooperate with Google. This will not only greatly simplify the life of buyers with Android smartphones, but also spur healthy competition in the market, thereby developing the economic situation as a whole.
Pros:
- number of supported devices;
- several ways to protect payments;
- active loyalty program.
Cons:
- does not work on third-party firmware;
- there is no dedicated data protection area in devices.
Lyricist: Max Dvorak
How safe is it
Like other payment systems, Android Pay does not transmit the card number and customer information to the terminal. Instead, a one-time 16-digit key (token) is sent to the phone, which is transferred to the terminal and used for payment. Tokens are generated in the Google cloud and sent to the phone via the Internet.
Offline, Android Pay uses one of the tokens from the phone’s memory. How exactly the system protects these tokens is still unknown. In addition to the key, Android Pay sends information about the payment network (Visa or MasterCard) and phone number to the terminal. Set a PIN or pattern password on a phone without a fingerprint scanner, otherwise anyone can unlock it and spend money. If your device is lost or stolen, block it using this link.
How Android Pay differs from Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
Android Pay does not create or store tokens on a secure chip inside a smartphone, as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay do. It receives keys from the cloud. Android Pay cannot pay on older terminals that do not support NFC. Samsung Pay can.
Android Pay is available to many: old smartphones and inexpensive models support it. The list of devices for Apple Pay and Samsung Pay is much shorter. The first works on iPhones from the sixth, iPhone SE, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, Apple Watch (as well as on iPhones from the fifth, but after hours). Samsung Pay supports the Galaxy lineup from S6, Galaxy Note 5, A5 and A7 2016, A3 2017, Gear S2 and Gear S3.
At the start, the list of partner banks supporting Apple Pay and Samsung Pay was much shorter. Android Pay immediately launched with a large package of contracts. But the geography of Android Pay is still relatively small. In addition to Russia, it has been launched in 10 more countries. Apple Pay and Samsung Pay also work in 5-6 other states.
What other alternatives are there
In addition to Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, there are payment apps. For holders of any Visa cards, there is the Visa QIWI Wallet application. When paying through the terminal, the application encrypts the data and requires confirmation, which is sent to the phone number.
The Wallet app is compatible with Android smartphones that have an NFC chip. The application does not link existing bank cards, so for payment you need to issue a MasterCard card from Russian Standard, Tinkoff or St. Petersburg banks (this is done in the application). If the application was pre-installed on a smartphone, then the card information is stored in a secure chip; if it is installed after purchase, then the data will be placed in the MasterCard cloud.
Alfa-Bank, MTS Bank, Moscow Industrial Bank, Ak Bars, Russian Standard, St. Petersburg, Tinkoff, Euroset and Yandex banks have contactless payment services. . Of money”. All of them work only with MasterCard and Android.