Google has launched Android Pay, the new digital wallet for Android smartphones, in Japan, six weeks after Apple launched its mobile payment service in the country.

With the new service, users can easily pay for the items they buy and earn loyalty points as well.

Google partnered with Rakuten, a prepaid service which allows users in Japan to use Rakuten Edy eMoney to make online transactions, to power Android Pay. Rakuten's service is used at over 470,000 locations in the country including stores like Lawson, Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, Family Mart, Dominos, and McDonald's. There is also support for loyalty programs, which include Rakuten's Super Points initiative.

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Google Pay is very convenient to use. To pay, a user simply needs to just his/her tap phone to the eMoney reader. One can see the balance through the mobile application and keep track of all the past transactions. The user can also add his/her plastic loyalty cards for supported point programs like Rakuten Super Points, according to Pali Bhat, Global Head of Payment Products at Google.

According to TechCrunch, Google also plans to work closely with FeliCa Networks, the RFID smart card system started by Sony, to add support for more eMoney services and traditional payment firms including Visa, Mastercard, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, and more next year.

Android Pay is available for users in many countries like US, UK, Singapore, Poland, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. The mobile wallet app is supported only on devices that run on the Android KitKat 4.4 or newer.

To download Android Pay, visit the app on Google Play, create a card, and start shopping. For a limited time, new users will receive a 400 yen sign-up gift when they create a Rakuten Edy card on Android Pay.