Google launches new payment app to keep up with Apple Pay

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In an effort to keep pace with the wildly successful Apple Pay, Google has launched its own new mobile payment app.

Google Pay, the company's third attempt at a mobile payment app, replaces Android Pay and Google Wallet.

Android Pay allowed users to purchase items at brick-and-mortar stores by scanning their phones at checkout. Google Wallet allowed users to send money back and forth to friends and family like the popular payment app Venmo.

The Google Pay app is broken into two sections.

The Home screen shows recent purchases, easy access rewards and nearby stores that accept Google Pay. The Cards screen will allow you to organize your credit and debit cards, loyalty programs, offers and gift cards.

In the coming months, Google Pay will allow users to send money back and forth to friends and family electronically. In the meantime, users can use Google Pay Send, a redesigned Google Wallet app, to send money.

Google Pay can be used to pay for transit in certain cities, such as Kiev in the Ukraine, London and Portland; more cities are expected to be added in the future.

The app also can be used to pay online for partner sites like Fandango and Airbnb.

Google Pay is now available in the Google Play Store for Android users.

Users who already have Android Pay installed on their devices will get the new app automatically upon their next update.

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