Major updates across mobile wallet platforms took place this month. Google Wallet added real-time travel features and improved pass management. Apple Wallet announced plans to support U.S. passports, expanding its digital identity options and Samsung Wallet rolled out new features in India.
At the same time, cross-border payment systems and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services continued to grow, and NFC payments kept increasing.
Table of Contents
Google Wallet
Google made significant strides in improving its wallet platform this October, focusing on real-time functionality and improving the user experience. Here’s a breakdown of the key updates.
Live Updates for Travel and Events
The standout update for Google Wallet in October is the introduction of Live Updates support for Android 16. This feature provides persistent, progress-based notifications for flights, train journeys, and events, allowing users to track their travels in real-time without having to open the app.
It’s similar to Apple’s Live Activities and aims to keep users informed with minimal effort.
Geofence Notifications and Email Integration
Google has extended Nearby Passes Geofence Notifications to cover all standard pass types, allowing for up to 10 merchant locations per category. When users arrive at a specified location, they receive push notifications on their lock screen, providing quick access to the relevant passes. This location-aware feature turns Google Wallet from a simple storage tool into an active assistant that proactively responds to user needs.
Additionally, Google introduced email ingestion integration for loyalty, boarding pass, and event ticket passes, automatically adding them to Wallet from Gmail when Smart Features are enabled. This simplifies the onboarding process as users no longer need to manually search for and add passes.
Pass Nicknames and Organization
On October 14, Google officially rolled out pass nicknames, allowing users to add custom names up to 25 characters to their passes for easier organization. This feature complements the existing payment card nickname system and appears on the pass homepage after a middle dot.
Users managing multiple loyalty cards, transit passes, or event tickets can now create personalized labels that make sense to them, whether organizing by merchant, trip purpose, or frequency of use.
Corporate Access and Developer Innovation
For corporate users, Google Wallet now allows multiple access cards with the same Application ID, such as Campus ID, Corporate Badge, Hotel Key, and Multi-Family cards, with the most recently selected card being prioritized. This improvement supports enterprise use cases such as building access, employee ID verification, and multi-property management.
A new user interface under passes now collects feedback directly from Wallet users, allowing Google to refine features based on actual user experiences. On the developer side, Google has introduced a pilot program for post-tap Loyalty Program Enrollment (also known as Bounceback), which encourages users who tap to pay at a store to enroll in merchant loyalty programs.
Apple Wallet
Apple Wallet is adding new features and expanding globally. Key updates include U.S. passport support and the growing use of digital keys in hotels.
U.S. Passport Support
Apple’s most significant announcement in October came from Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, who revealed at Money20/20 USA that U.S. passport support will be available before the end of 2025.
This digital credential will be accepted at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel, further strengthening Apple’s goal to make Wallet a secure hub for digital identity. This move is especially timely given the enforcement of Real ID requirements starting in May 2025.
With this addition, Apple Wallet will encompass a full digital identity system, including driver’s licenses, state IDs, and passports, making the iPhone a potential full replacement for a physical wallet during domestic travel.
Digital IDs also appear to be a key focus in Europe, a topic we will explore further later on.
Platform Growth and Global Adoption
Bailey also highlighted impressive adoption statistics that demonstrate Apple Wallet’s growth as a key service. Apple Pay is now available in 89 countries, with 90% of U.S. retailers accepting it and more than 11,000 banks and networks worldwide integrated into the platform.
Transit services are available in over 250 regions and 800 cities across the globe, while more than 2 million hotel room keys have been issued, covering over 65,000 hotel rooms. Additionally, 29 car manufacturers and more than 300 models now support the Car Key feature in Wallet.
Hospitality Innovation and Digital Keys
As we mentioned in September, easyHotel in London and Paris began offering room keys via Apple Wallet, marking a shift toward mobile wallet keys in the hospitality industry.
In October, this trend gained further momentum as TIME Magazine named Alliants’ Apple Wallet Digital Hotel Keys among its Best Inventions of 2025. The system, which debuted at Resorts World Las Vegas, enables app-free room access and integrates with major lock providers like Vingcard, Salto, and Dormakaba.
Additionally, YHA Australia became the first accommodation network in Australasia to implement digital wallet keys (Google & Apple Wallet) across its 19-property network, further demonstrating the growing adoption of this technology.
Samsung Wallet
Samsung Wallet is adding new features to make payments and access easier. Key updates include UPI onboarding during device setup, biometric payment authentication, and the introduction of Digital Car Keys for vehicles.
India-First Strategy: UPI and Device Setup Integration
Samsung announced a series of breakthrough features for Samsung Wallet in India on October 29, positioning the platform as a “universal and secure gateway” for digital life.
A standout feature is the UPI onboarding during new device setup, allowing Galaxy users to be payment-ready as soon as they power on their device. This integration removes setup friction, positioning digital payments as the default option, which is expected to accelerate UPI adoption and expand financial inclusion in India.
Biometric Authentication for Everyday Payments
In addition to UPI onboarding, Samsung Wallet is enhancing the payment experience by enabling biometric authentication for UPI transactions. Users will soon be able to make payments using fingerprint or facial recognition without needing to enter a PIN, further improving the payment process.
This integration of biometric authentication extends security while removing the final friction point for everyday transactions, providing a smoother experience for users.
Digital Car Keys for Connected Vehicles
Samsung has partnered with Mahindra to introduce Digital Car Key functionality for the Electric Origin SUVs. This feature allows users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles without a physical key.
Additionally, users can share temporary keys and remotely delete them through Samsung Find if the device is lost or stolen. This marks a significant expansion of Samsung Wallet, transforming it into a platform for managing both digital payments and physical access.
Mobile Wallet Developments Worldwide
Mobile wallets are growing fast worldwide. From new QR payment systems in Thailand to Klarna’s UK launch, and rising NFC payments, there’s plenty happening. Here’s a quick look at the latest updates.
Thailand-China QR Code Linkage: A Regional Milestone
On October 30, 2025, Thailand launched a cross-border QR payment system allowing Chinese tourists to use Alipay, UnionPay, and WeChat Pay to make payments at Thai merchants. This initiative was developed through a collaboration between National ITMX, Chinese payment providers, and major Thai banks like Bangkok Bank and Krungthai Bank.
This connection is crucial for tourism, as 8.8 million tourists traveled between Thailand and China in 2024. It enables seamless payments for Chinese visitors, boosting Thailand’s appeal as a tourist destination and supporting regional economic growth by reducing payment friction.
PayPal’s Strategic Focus on Buy Now Pay Later and Digital Wallets
PayPal CEO Alex Chriss announced during Q3 earnings that the company sees “a massive shift to digital wallets and to BNPL and toward agentic commerce.” PayPal’s BNPL product is expected to generate approximately $40 billion in volume in 2025, up more than 20% from 2024.
Klarna UK Digital Wallet and Debit Card Launch
On October 28, Klarna announced the launch of its debit card and digital wallet (Klarna Balance) in the UK. The digital wallet enables customers to store money, add and withdraw funds, and receive cashback rewards for purchases made through Klarna. This followed Klarna securing FCA authorization for e-money services in July.
Global NFC Payment Growth and Market Data
October data shows that NFC technology now powers over 95% of global contactless payments. The number of NFC-enabled devices worldwide is expected to reach 4.5 billion by the end of 2025. In the U.S., NFC-based payments account for around 58-65% of all in-store digital transactions.
Biometric authentication is used in about 70% of NFC transactions, reducing the risk of unauthorized payments. According to Juniper Research, the total value of contactless payments is projected to rise to $18.1 trillion by 2030, more than double the $7.7 trillion expected in 2025.
PassKit Becomes Google Wallet Premier Partner 2025
PassKit has been named a Google Wallet Premier Partner for 2025, recognizing its role in helping businesses create and manage digital passes like loyalty cards, event tickets, and coupons.
This partnership highlights PassKit’s expertise in integrating these passes into Google Wallet, allowing businesses to easily distribute and update them, improving customer engagement and operational efficiency.
