Google finally merges Pay and Pay Send as newer features keep rolling out to Google Pay

The Google Wallet/Android Pay successor continues to add more features as it continues on path to become a Google wallet (aaaaand face meet palm)

I will always be a Google fan. From the Home to Pixel to their various services, my digital life essentially runs on Google property. However, as anyone who has ever gone through the Hangouts, Messages, Voice, Allo, et cetera dilemma, Google tends to get stir-crazy when they keep things the same for too long. That could not be more obvious than the Android/Google Pay/Wallet scenario.

These days almost every major tech company has a mobile payment app. Between Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, FitBit Pay, Microsoft Pay, and Google Pay, there is no shortage of providers. Now, when it comes to these systems, I have to say that Apple seems to be the one with the right idea. The main app is simple called Apple Wallet while the actual service for mobile payment is called Apple Pay. Simple right?

Enter Google.

Google, prior to the mobile payment craze, had an app simply called Google Wallet. Here you could store payment, loyalty, and gift cards as well as eventually send/receive payments. At the time, it just couldn't be used as a payment app.

As the market flooded with payment apps, Google launched Android Pay which became the exclusive payment app of Google branded devices. Oddly enough, it was not part of Google Wallet, but simply, an entirely separate app that could not even communicate with Google Wallet. While others were making things simple, Google was doing what is has always done with messaging: creating separate apps for similar functions that should really be one thing.

Not long ago, as Google has increasingly moved from "Android" branding to "Google" branding, it was announced that Android Pay was becoming Google Pay, and many, myself included, praised Google for finally making things simple...only they weren't. Google Pay was remaining a mobile payment app while Google Pay Send would replace Google Wallet for sending payments.

What?

Thankfully, Google has announced today that Google Pay Send will merge into Google Pay making one app for card storage, mobile payments, and money exchanges. Finally! According to Google, Google Pay will continue to launch new features to put it on parity with Apple such as storing boarding passes. This would mean Google Pay will become much more than just a mobile payment service; it will become an all-encompassing Apple Wallet competitor or a Google...wallet if you will.