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Google Launches NFC-enabled Google Wallet for Smartphone Mobile Payments

- By - Source : Google Wallet

Who needs a swanky leather wallet when you can use your cell phone to pay?

After months of rumors and speculation, Google has finally revealed details of its NFC mobile payments system. Dubbed Google Wallet, the application represents a partnership between Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint and will allow Nexus S users (support for additional handsets to come later) to pay for goods as well as store credit cards, offers, loyalty cards and gift cards. 

Google’s aim is to create a ‘SingleTap’ experience that allows users to pay (with credit or gift card), redeem coupons and promotions, and earn loyalty points with a single tap of their phone. Retailers already signed on to become SingleTap partners are American Eagle Outfitters, Bloomingdale's, Champs Sports, The Container Store, Duane Reade, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Foot Locker, Guess, Jamba Juice, Macy's, Noah's Bagels, Peet's Coffee & Tea, RadioShack, Subway, Toys'R'Us and Walgreens.

To start with, Google Wallet will support both Citi MasterCard and a Google Prepaid Card, which you’ll be able to top up with almost any payment card. Customers can tap-to-pay wherever MasterCard PayPass is accepted. Google Wallet will also automatically redeem offers and earn loyalty points and will sync with your Google Offers (Google's own deal site), allowing you to either redeem via NFC or just show your barcode at check out time.

As previously reported, the program will be first trialed in New York and San Francisco, but will be expanded for a full release this summer.

Google Wallet

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irish_adam 05/27/2011 2:53 AM
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picture link broken?

JMcEntegart 05/27/2011 3:11 AM
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irish_adam :
picture link broken?



Oops, thanks!

Anonymous 05/27/2011 8:21 AM
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ummmmmm, no thanks.

chfireball 05/27/2011 9:10 AM
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well i don't care for google much, they want there hand in everything!. now it's in paypal's pot. and i don't care much for paypal so this is a " good " thing.

aaron88_7 05/27/2011 9:40 AM
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Great, because I not only want Google knowing my web searches and physical location, but also what I'm buying as well. Screw personal privacy, when can I get this?

thrasher32 05/27/2011 3:01 PM
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aaron, unless you're paying with cash and not using your store "rewards" card, your purchases are already going into at least one database.

chaos133 05/27/2011 4:25 PM
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Is there an option to put some type of pin number on this? It may be easy and convenient to pay this way but if someone steals your phone it looks like your going to get a pretty massive bill.

milktea 05/27/2011 5:37 PM
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thrasher32 :
aaron, unless you're paying with cash and not using your store "rewards" card, your purchases are already going into at least one database.


Even if you pay with cash, by carrying your smartphone (transaction + location) they could already tell what you've bought... I think. Unless you pay cash to the register under the table. :D

Yoder54 05/27/2011 5:40 PM
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Yikes, talk about some bad reporting. Yes, Google is releasing it's mobile payments app. Google is also being sued by PayPal/eBay for hiring away those responsible in the PayPal camp for developing the app and for sharing PayPal's trade secrets with Google...that is the real news.

otacon72 05/27/2011 11:27 PM
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...very slimy what those ex-PayPal employees did if it's true. When you go up against PayPal you go up against Ebay...not something I'd want to do. Google's in deep doodoo if the accusations are proven true.

fir_ser 05/28/2011 3:16 AM
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It's true, Google is trying to get itself into everything, and the ultimate goal is our brains.

grieve 05/30/2011 11:43 PM
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I have something like this already... Its called a Mastercard, A Visa and also up here in Canada most people use smoething called Debit.
Whats the point? All i gain here is to carry 1 less card.

I would roll with this new concept as soon as my phone can become my "official" everything replacing a wallet. Granted the security would have to be WAY more then my current secret code.. (1974)

grieve 05/30/2011 11:45 PM
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otacon72 :
...very slimy what those ex-PayPal employees did if it's true. When you go up against PayPal you go up against Ebay...not something I'd want to do. Google's in deep doodoo if the accusations are proven true.


paypal(ebay) VS. Google... and the winner is?!

I would bet google wins this one. But im still not going to use thier dumb app.

Anonymous 05/31/2011 12:42 PM
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Unless there is some very good way of securing the NFC payment feature this is going to make stealing my phone worth a lot more. If I walk down the road with my phone held up to my ears, isn't that going to be like me walking down the road with my wallet out for everyone to grab?

eddieroolz 06/03/2011 3:09 AM
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Say no to Google.