Google launches a new Wallet with support for digital IDs and more

Google has kicked its I/O event of 2022 as it often does, with its latest plans for its personal device ecosystem and the software involved. Part of this is the introduction of the Wallet - or re-introduction, to be more precise. 

This app had been dropped in the recent past, but is now touted as revitalized in what might be a more effective and useful way this time around. To this end, Google has asserted that it is truly capable of taking everything found in the average physical wallet and making it virtual.

This, apparently, will get to the stage of keeping and securing authentic digital IDs, to be issued and approved by a growing number of governments over time, within it. These functions may be propped up by the increased data-protection and retention mechanisms Google has also unveiled as part of its developer's event this year.

They include claims of improved end-to-end encryption, secure enclave and identity-scrubbing capabilities baked into Google's services. There is also Google Pay Pass, a new process by which payments using one's normal card are converted into those using virtual card numbers automatically.

Google also intends to offer support for digital travel cards and vaccination cards (when applicable). The Mountain View has declared that the latter in particular will be stored on-device so that its owner can stay in control of the sensitive nature of its data. The Wallet may also even have car-key support, although this may depend on the marque in question.

The new Wallet is also slated to become available on WearOS devices, the Pixel Watch included, albeit for payments only. The update to its app, which may supplant Google Pay, should start to become available in its first 40 countries worldwide during the summer of 2022.