Google Wallet: They Have Your Data, Now They Want Your Money
SO they know where you were last night, they know what your name is and what you email your girlfriend about. But they’d like to go a little further.
Google want to be your wallet too. You know all those leather things you have in your pocket? Forget them. From now just keep all that stuff stored in a chip in your Android phone.
Credit cards, train tickets and bits of loose change kicking around – that crap is old now. The next generation of Google Android phones will feature NFC chips (Near Field Communication chips). Simply tap your phone on card readers in shops and stations to part with your hard-earned money extra quickly – shaving literally seconds off your transactions – Google say:
“Google Wallet is an Android app that makes your phone your wallet. It stores virtual versions of your existing plastic cards on your phone. Simply tap your phone to pay and redeem offers using near field communication, or NFC.”
The upside for us: none of that faffing around with bits of paper and plastic. Also, you’ll never lose your Nero’s loyalty card again – unless you lose your phone, in which case you’ve lost everything and are totally screwed.
The upside for Google: They will control everything – more than they already do.
Don’t worry, though – it’s only coming to those of us with the Nexus S 4G smartphones – and they’re not available yet in the United Kingdom. Google will have to do a bit of a PR job to get people really biting on their their strange new technology a) because no-one trusts them; b) because people don’t really see the point of it – and they don’t mind entering their PIN numbers. Wait till Google Offers kicks in though (a Groupon-like voucher service run by Google). Then we’ll be queuing up to pay for getting our teeth whitened with our phones. Or something.
But I’m not complaining about this – Google will do it really well. They do everything really well. And if they take over the world one day – they’ll do that really well too..
Spotter: Google tell you about their wallet
Posted: 28th, May 2011 | In: Technology Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
