FaceCash mobile payment apps are like real money, only with your face on it instead of someone smart

ThinkLink's FaceCash mobile payment system has debuted several apps (for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android devices) which allow you to pay for things merely by scanning your phone -- and showing off the attached photo to confirm it is, in fact, your own money that you're spending. You sign up, link your FaceCash account to your personal checking and savings account, and you're good to go with participating merchants. The apps can also store credit card numbers and banking information (perfect for when you lose your phone during a night of heavy partying), making it easier to leave your wallet or purse behind... or so they say. Sadly, FaceCash currently only has merchants in California, and really, who wants to live there?

[sedo Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:27PM]

wtf useless shitty shit

[tai376 Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:29PM]

@sedo What i first thought. Pay Pass seems the most beneficial to me and not even that is available everywhere

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:34PM]

The problem with these types of apps is always "merchant adoption". Someone please duplicate what Japan has done... Also, I want to use my bank card to get stuff from vending machines... why are we so behind?!

[Gaujo Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:43PM]

Hippies!

[scorpeo Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:48PM]

Why is there a hotlink for the iphone4?! Engadget did not extend the same courtesy for any of the Android or the Blackberry devices!

[scorpeo Posted Jun 17th 2010 8:02PM]

@Plazmic Flame, actually, most vending machines are not owned by merchants, they are either owned by the owners of the properties or an independent vendor who leases space on the property. There are cashless vending machines in America, due to the high cost some vendors choose not to buy them. Here is one company that provides cashless vending machines: http://www.vendingconnection.com/cashlessvending.html

[DefPoet Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:28PM]

Engadget just called us dumb :-\
Mist peoples faces on world money were not really smart you know they just played a part in soothing *changing*

[Agrabren Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:30PM]

@DefPoet I guess we don't need to point out your multiple typos?

[loocas Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:36PM]

@Agrabren You're being mean...

[thaprinze Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:35PM]

@DefPoet

People said I was dumb, but I proved them!

-Fry

[A Brown Kid Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:43PM]

@DefPoet
was ANYONE supposed to understand that?

and if anyone did, someone wanna translate?

[whiskers Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:28PM]

Why.....?
What's next, ButtCash?

[tazm0n Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:31PM]

@whiskers If those parts are going to start being used, it's going to give "A sack full of money" a whole new meaning...

[DefPoet Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:33PM]

@whiskers
Chattroulettecash. All the song verification you need

[meta Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:00PM]

@whiskers goatsecash.

[Incorrigible Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:28PM]

lol... yeah this will fail.

[A Brown Kid Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:29PM]

FaceCash: Meet FaceTime

[elijahblake Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:35PM]

@A Brown Kid

Facecash meet FacePalm!

[A Brown Kid Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:43PM]

@elijahblake
Win.

[tazm0n Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:29PM]

Oh great, now mobsters won't just lop off a finger or eyeball for biometric ID, they'll have to take the whole head....

[Icerpro Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:30PM]

Moving to California I guess

[ArcticWolf Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:33PM]

Who wants to live in Cali? You do from the sounds of it.

[neeko18 Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:34PM]

The future is scary.

[Proverb Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:35PM]

@neeko18 Welcome to the cashless society.

[mrsayao Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:38PM]

I live in CA... I love it, side from our Governor and the crappy budget

[Kimodragon Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:39PM]

California FTW

[StupidPopMediaReference Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:41PM]

"Sadly, FaceCash currently only has merchants in California, and really, who wants to live there?"

*looks around* Any takers? *crickets chirp*

Right, last one out turn off the lights!

[Wesscoast Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:43PM]

@StupidPopMediaReference

Um like... 40 million people? California runs the country, genius. Get back in the cave, you.

[piranah25 Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:42PM]

"Sadly, FaceCash currently only has merchants in California, and really, who wants to live there?"

1. Happy Cows
2. People who know New Yorkers firsthand, and think they are drones
3. People who were born in California
4. People who enjoy good scenery
5. People who like cheap/good drugs.
6. Anybody who enjoys porn.

[JFH Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:06PM]

@piranah25

Yeah, well um, NY has all of that, and a lot more action. The only thing Cali has over NY is the weather.

[UnixSystemsEngineer Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:11PM]

@JFH
We've got weather and good roads. All ya need for driving/motorcycling/biking fun. Oh yeah, and we've got real mountains. And some of our most populated areas are a 15 minute drive from excellent hiking that makes you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.

[KarlW Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:14PM]

@JFH

Come November, cannabis might finally be legal. Isn't that enough?

[zweihander Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:01AM]

@JFH that being said.....

[Debonair Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:44PM]

SWEET! Now I can buy.....uh.....food in Palo Alto, thats it? Really?


Indochine Restaurant
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2517

Red Mango
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Ramona's Pizza
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Han Korean Cuisine
palo alto, CA 94301

[CalBearGuy Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:53PM]

@Debonair

must be a startup / the invention of some dumb stanfurd kids... Go Bears!

[trainwrecka Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:54PM]

THE MARK OF THE BEAST!!!!11!!1!!!!

I thought it was my Social Security Card... Driver's License... Dave & Busters Points Card... XBOX Live Gift Card... and now this...

[whatznext28 Posted Jun 17th 2010 5:58PM]

"only with your face on it instead of someone smart,"
What you trying to say?

[cammarin Posted Jun 17th 2010 6:25PM]

What if you have an evil twin?

[dayznfuz Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:09PM]

Doesn't anyone else think it's a bad idea to link your bank account to a device that you can lose? Debit cards were bad enough, but this seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Thanks, I'll just stick with a credit card. There are good credit card laws that protect you from lost cards and unauthorized charges. None of which apply to debit cards and direct bank deductions.

[UnixSystemsEngineer Posted Jun 17th 2010 7:11PM]

This reminds me of PayPal in 2000. We were using our Palm Pilots to beam money to each other. Good times.

[VanNorden Posted Jun 17th 2010 8:28PM]

I live in California you jerk

[The Missing Link Posted Jun 18th 2010 3:39AM]

I for one think this is awesome. It's convenient, and eventually Credit "Cards" will be a thing of the past.

[golfnz34me Posted Jun 18th 2010 1:48PM]

I like this system. All my bills can go to Richard Nixon, G.W Bush or Bill Clinton!

[dSTeVek Posted Jun 19th 2010 7:03AM]

California welcomes illegal mexicans to live there, but we really need more tax paying citizens to move in to cover the cost of these illegals.