Google has announced the latest update to its Google Play services (v24.11), bringing an array of new features and improvements to Android devices worldwide. A significant highlight, particularly for the African market, is the expansion of Google Wallet to Morocco. This makes Morocco only the second African nation to officially support the convenient payment platform, following South Africa.
While Google Wallet’s arrival in Morocco is certainly welcome news, the relatively slow pace of its rollout across Africa hasn’t gone unnoticed. It has taken nearly two years for Google to add a second African country to its supported list, but that’s not surprising considering the company’s conservative approach with bringing its products and services on the continent. Given the continent’s pretty much established mobile money platforms like MPESA, Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, and Airtel Money, one would understand why Google has taken this long to reach a second African market. For now, it remains to be seen if this latest move will lead to a more concerted push to bring Google Wallet to additional African markets, potentially including major mobile hubs like Kenya and Nigeria.
Aside from Google Wallet expansion, the Google Play services v24.11 update offers a range of enhancements. Android users will enjoy a smoother experience when pairing wearables to a new phone. The system management services update promises improved device performance across various Android platforms, including phones, Android Auto, Android TV, and Wear OS devices. Additionally, Play Games Services will see a refreshed UI for creating profiles and signing in.
The Google Play services v24.11 update is now rolling out to Android devices. Users in Morocco can begin enjoying the convenience and security of Google Wallet, while users worldwide will benefit from the overall performance and user experience upgrades.
