Google has announced this morning that the company is planning to pre-install its Google Wallet mobile payments app on the phones of some carriers, notably those sold by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. While Google was reportedly in talks to acquire the mobile payments company Softcard—previously known as ISIS— earlier this year, the Mountain View company says that it is at this time simply acquiring “some” technology and intellectual property…
After years of lackluster adoption, Google Wallet has been slowly gaining some momentum since the launch of Apple Pay—and the increased ubiquity of NFC readers at United States retail outlets. But now Google is taking steps to push its own platform to the masses. According to the company, the Google Wallet mobile app will come pre-installed on devices sold by these three carriers that are running Android KitKat or higher. Notably absent from the partnership is Sprint.
So today, we’re excited to announce that we’re working with AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, as well as their mobile payments company Softcard, to help more Android users get the benefits of tap and pay. Under this relationship, the Google Wallet app, including the tap and pay functionality, will come pre-installed on Android phones (running KitKat or higher) sold by these carriers in the US later this year. We’re also acquiring some exciting technology and intellectual property from Softcard to make Google Wallet better.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Google is testing a new payment service called “Plaso” that would let users pay for items by simply giving the person behind the register their initials. The system would automatically detect devices for mobile payment and then the initials of the user would simply be used for verification. More recently, a Wall Street Journal report said that Google was planning to reboot its Wallet app and service at this year’s I/O developers conference.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments