Google Pay bellyflops in Japan:
That didn't take long. No sooner had Google Pay landed in Japan when Android users without JP carrier locked Osaifu-Keitai phones noticed they weren't invited to the FeliCa party and lost their shit. Then local Japanese tech journalists filed reviews and they were not kind: "zannen" which means "too bad" as in "too bad Google Pay is a weak imitation of a real FeliCa Osaifu-Keitai that any user could add and use on any Android phone." Too bad it's not a Global FeliCa iPhone.
I called it a few weeks ago:
If and when Google Pay Suica arrives it will likely be on Osaifu-Keitai /Mobile FeliCa enabled locked Android devices from Japanese carriers. Global FeliCa iPhone-like out-of-the-box Mobile Suica on 'global FeliCa' Android devices from anywhere looks to be a long way off.
FeliCa Dude called it earlier: "Android Pay is smoke and mirrors"
Google Pay Japan is smoke and mirrors.
(Via atadistance.com)
Not that my US-purchased Google Nexus 6P would have been included in this due to age if not build, but I would have liked a truly viable option to the Apple Pay & Suica combo. I'm not looking to switch but competition could be good for innovation.