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Say Farewell to the Physical Google Wallet Card

Google will retire the Wallet Card on June 30, and is encouraging users to transition to the new Google Wallet app.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Are you still using a physical Google Wallet Card? Prepare to say goodbye.

Google plans to retire the Wallet Card service on June 30, meaning any transactions you make with your card after that date will not be processed. The Web giant is hoping you'll switch over to its Wallet app instead.

"Moving forward, we want to focus on making it easier than ever to send and receive money with the Google Wallet app," Google said in its announcement. "Last fall, we introduced the new Google Wallet app as a first step in that direction."

The Google Wallet app lets you pay for items with a debit card and send money using a recipient's phone number. If you're not ready for that, and you just want a replacement for your Wallet card, American Express and Simple offer debit accounts with similar features, Google said. Google is working with both companies so that Wallet Card users will get a bonus after signing up.

For the uninitiated, Wallet Card is a physical debit card that lets you use your Google Wallet balance in the real world. After May 1, you'll no longer be able to add money to your Wallet balance, though your Wallet balance will remain intact, and you can transfer this money to your bank account at any time. After June 30, purchases will not go through. 

"As we wind down support for the Wallet Card, we want to thank you—cardholders, early adopters, and payment pioneers—for your feedback along the way," Google wrote in its announcement. "We're excited to continue enhancing Google Wallet to give you the best possible experience when paying friends and family."

Head over to Google's FAQ for more information.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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