Samsung Adds Airlines, Gift Card Providers to Its Digital Wallet

Samsung is broadening its mobile wallet through new partnerships with companies in transportation, coupons and hospitality.

Samsung Wallet, which resembles Apple's Passbook in that it acts as a container for other mobile payment and ticketing apps, now supports American Express, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines, Amtrak, Valpak, eGifter and other companies. Samsung's app already supported Walgreens, Expedia, Belly, Lufthansa and Hotels.com.

Samsung Wallet is available on many of the manufacturer's Android-based Galaxy smartphones. The app allows users to store and organize coupons, tickets and memberships while enabling them to create digital versions of membership cards. The wallet also supports Samsung Offers, which provides incentives from grocery stores.

The new partners will add specific services to Samsung's wallet. American Express is providing its customers access to their account balances and latest transactions through Samsung Wallet, while United Airlines enables users to load boarding passes.

"We are focusing our efforts on enhancing Samsung Wallet through strategic partnerships and providing users access to useful content," says Won-Pyo Hong, president of the Samsung Electronics Media Solution Center, in an Oct. 29 press release. "With mobile ticketing and coupon redemption rapidly on the rise, this service will help consumers keep it all organized and take advantage of relevant money-saving offers while on the go."