BIZ BUZZ: Google Pay fever hits gadget shops

Barely a month after Google Pay’s Philippine debut, the service seems to be stirring up action not just in digital payments but in the gadgets market.

Rumor has it that several gadget shops in Metro Manila have sold out of Android smartwatches in recent weeks—reportedly thanks to eager users wanting to try Google Pay’s tap-and-go features on their wrists.

And with Apple Pay’s long-anticipated local launch expected next year, many people are already wondering whether the rollout will spark a similar buying frenzy for Apple gear, especially the ever-popular Apple Watch.

For now, though, Google has a clear head start over its Silicon Valley rival—no surprise in a country where roughly 80 percent of smartphone users are on Android.