Your Smartwatch Just Became Your Key to Everything

Having all your important cards right on your wrist. Well, that's just what Google is making possible with its latest update for Wear OS watches. Google Wallet, the handy digital wallet app, is getting a big boost with support for hotel keys, campus IDs, and even corporate badges. This means your smartwatch can replace your room key, student ID, and office pass. The new update, which is part of Google Play Services v24. 47, is rolling out to 97 countries. So, whether you're in the US or abroad, you can enjoy these new features. And the best part? You don't need to wait for a special watch or any extra gadgets. As long as your smartwatch has NFC, you're good to go.But don't expect to see your driver's license or passport on your watch just yet. Those documents are better suited for bigger screens. Still, the update is pretty cool, right? It's like having a mini-wallet on your wrist that can do almost everything your physical wallet does. In other news, Google is also planning to let kids use digital wallets with tap-to-pay functionality. This will be available next year and will give parents full control over their kids' spending. It's a nice touch for families who want to teach their kids about money in the digital age.