Owe someone money? Google wants to make it a little easier to settle your debt.
The Web giant on Tuesday announced that Google Wallet is now integrated with the Gmail app for Android, offering an easy way for you to send and receive money. The integration means you can now request and accept money in a few simple steps right from Gmail for Android, as you can already do via Gmail on the Web. “Whether you’re splitting a dinner bill or planning a group trip, you now have a fee-free way to work out the details and settle up without ever leaving the Gmail app on Android,” Google Product Manager Sam Kansara wrote in a blog post.
If you’ve ever added an attachment to an email, you’ll already know how use this new feature. Just tap on the attachment icon like you normally would when adding a document or image to an email, and choose whether you want to send or request money.
The recipient can receive money right from the email itself, without having to install another payment app. Recipients can also arrange for any money they receive to go right into their bank account. Best of all, this service is completely free for both the sender and the recipient.
At this point, the feature is only available in the U.S. via Gmail on Android or the Web.
For the uninitiated, Google Wallet is a mobile payment system that lets you send money to anyone in the U.S. with an email address or a phone number (even if they don’t have a Wallet account).