Google Wallet has introduced a new feature that allows users to use their phones as hotel room keys. Users can add a hotel card key to their Google Wallet in a process similar to adding a credit or debit card from a direct website. They simply go to the hotel’s site, app, or follow email instructions and tap on the “Add to Google Wallet” option.
Once the hotel card key is added, users can unlock their rooms by taking out their NFC-capable phone, unlocking it, and holding the back of the device near the door handle. Some phone models even allow users to use the hotel key without unlocking the phone first. However, this feature is currently compatible with a limited number of hotels. The first hotel to offer this feature is the Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg, Sweden.
While the idea of adding a hotel card key to Google Wallet sounds convenient, there is a significant catch. Not all card key systems are compatible with Google Wallet, so hotel chains will need to add support first. As of now, very few hotels support this feature. Despite this limitation, Google is hopeful that more hotels will adopt this feature in the future.
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