Google Pay adds biometric security feature for user payments: report

Google Pay, the digital wallet platform of the search engine giant, has released a biometrics-enabled feature for users’ digital payment authentication.

With version 2.100, Google has added support for fingerprints and face authentication for money transfers using Android 10’s biometric application programming interface or API,  Android Police reported.

Previously, the only payment authentication method was the traditional personal identification number or PIN. Users can now toggle between the PIN security and biometric security option under the sending money settings of the app.

The feature might also come to Android 9 phones soon, the report added.

Google Pay, originally launched just over two years ago as Tez, is the most preferred unified payment interface (UPI) option in India, with 62% market share in July, August and September, followed by rivals PhonePe with 25%, Paytm with 6% and Bhim with 5%, according to a report by payment gateway software company Razorpay earlier this month.

Last week, Google Payments India reported a 75% year over year jump in net profit at Rs 32.8 lakh for the financial year 2019.