Google I/O 2015 Features Android Pay

Google I/O 2015 lifts off Thursday at San Francisco's Moscone Center. Per usual, Google will make major announcements during its annual developer conference. Prime on this year's agenda, Google will release Android Pay. Originally announced at Mobile World Congress, Android Pay constitutes a payments API that allows developers to add mobile payments to apps.

Users can upload credit or debit card information. In turn, in-app purchases require just a single tap after Android Pay integration. Additionally, the API extends to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Android phones include NFC chips, which will pair with Google's Host Card Emulation to create a streamlined checkout and payment experience. Google built the entire Android Pay environment from the ground up, a benefit that Google Wallet did not enjoy, aiding in the frustration with the former Google payment solution. Whereas previous payments solutions have not taken hold as Google hoped, Android Pay should have an ease-of-use and adoptability factor that previous solutions did not.

While Android Pay will certainly make headlines at this year's event, Google has a host of other product announcements to present, including the latest Android OS (Android M), Google's new smart home technology (Brillo) and another generation of Android wear. Google Glass may not make an appearance after reports earlier this year indicated that it might take a back seat to other projects for an indeterminate amount of time. Regardless of what Google presents, Google I/O is sure to give the tech world a host of news to discuss and solutions to play with in the coming months.