Support for “Digital Driver’s Licence” in the Wallet app on Android phones has begun beta testing by Google.
According to the tech giant’s support page, users using Android 8.0 (or later) enrolled in the Google Play Services beta program (specifically, version 48.22) are eligible for this feature.
Beginning with Maryland, the business has already started beta testing the capability for digital driver’s licenses and state ID cards. According to a report by The Verge, after activating Bluetooth and nearby devices, users will see a new option for “ID Card (beta)” when adding a new card to the Google Wallet app.
If you match the prerequisites indicated above, “ID Card (Beta)” will be listed in Google Wallet’s “Add to Wallet” section among credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, and gift cards claimed 9to5google. Three aspects of Google Wallet for Android that support state identification cards or driver’s licenses are highlighted:
Tap, check, and confirm at the TSA checkpoint.
Private: You control how much of your ID can be viewed by others and how much can be shared.
Secure: Your ID is saved on your device and is safely encrypted, so only you can access it.
How to Use the feature
Follow these instructions to use the new feature:
1. On an Android device, launch the Google Wallet application.
2. Select the ID or license option by scrolling down.
3. Tap your license or ID.
4. Scan the accessible QR code on your ID.
5. Examine the specifics.
6. Before allowing you to proceed, the app will request your authentication.
7. Keep watching for the blue checkmark to show that the information was shared.
Regarding privacy, Google emphasizes that digital IDs are stored locally on a user’s phone and can only be saved on one device. You can delete it at any moment using the app or myaccount.google.com > Personal Info > Digital ID > Manage > Delete. However, if customers are offline for more than 30 days straight, they won’t be able to access the digital ID.
According to a 9to5Google story, this feature was unveiled in May at the keynote address of Google’s I/O annual developers’ conference. Maryland, a US state, was listed as the first state to test this future functionality during the presentation, according to a slide.
