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Samsung Pay Introduces Support For Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Cards
The feature is currently available only in the United States.
In 2021, digital COVID-19 vaccination cards have become reality for many people around the world who decided to take the vaccine in order to better protect themselves and their loved ones from the deadly infectious disease that brought the world to a stand still last year.
Now Samsung, in partnership with The Commons Project Foundation, a non-profit public trust established to build and operate digital platforms and services for the common good, has announced that Samsung Pay users can use the mobile payment and digital wallet service to store digital versions of their COVID-19 vaccination cards.
“As more and more consumers use their Samsung devices as a digital wallet, it is a natural extension to make Covid-19 vaccination records more easily accessible,” explains Rob White, Sr. Director of Product for Samsung Pay at Samsung Electronics America, in the official announcement. “We are proud to partner with The Commons Project Foundation on this important initiative and to help make life easier” he added.
Here’s what you need to do to add your own COVID-19 vaccination card to Samsung Pay:
- Open the Google Play Store app and download the CommonHealth app to your device.
- Follow the instructions provided by the CommonHealth app to access your COVID-19 vaccine information.
- You can then tap the Add to Samsung Pay link to transfer your COVID-19 vaccine information to Samsung Pay.
- Launch the Samsung Pay app and tap the COVID-19 Vaccine Pass on the homepage.
At the moment, this handy feature is available only in the United States, and we have no information on global availability.
Also Read: Mastercard Plans To Say Goodbye To Magnetic Stripes In 2024
Of course, Samsung can’t force any business, educational institution, or other places to actually accept digital vaccination cards stored in Samsung Pay, but we predict that the willingness to accept this form of COVID-19 certification will only increase as more similar solutions become available.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.