Google has been emailing its Gmail users over the past several days to remind them they can attach money to their emails. The goal is to drive users to adopt Google Wallet. Google has been hoping to get its digital wallet to take off since its release back in September 2011, but adoption has been slight, and usage, even lighter.
A recent three-month test at the point of sale of a national retailer yielded only 12 Google Wallet transactions, an industry insider told Bank Innovation. Google has therefore turned to Gmail and its 425 million users to resuscitate Google Wallet.
In May, Google briefly stole the fintech spotlight when it announced that Gmail users can send money via emails. What was lost in the initial buzz was that both parties to the transaction need to hold Google Wallet accounts, and that the “Attach money” feature works only in Gmail’s online version, not in its mobile app.
It seems Google Wallet won’t get the attention Google wants until its person-to=person (P2P) funds transfer via email solution works on mobile devices.
*Attach Money feature magnified in picture below.