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The big phone carriers might sell Google their mobile wallet
Remember Softcard (formerly Isis, but renamed for obvious reasons)? It's a joint venture that AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile started in 2010 to get into mobile payments without ceding the market to Google Wallet and Apple Pay. That hasn't quite worked out, since few want to put a $70 case on their iPhone to use mobile payments, and a caseless option for the iPhone 6 has yet to arrive. Tonight Techcrunch first reported rumors that it's in talks for a sale to Google, while Paypal and Microsoft are apparently interested too. The initial report puts its pricetag at under $100 million, less than the hundreds of millions the mobile carriers invested in it. Google and Softcard have both declined to comment on the rumor, but it seems more a matter of when and who will pick up the pieces, not if.
Restaurants will soon take any mobile payment at the table
Sure, your local drug store or theme park may let you buy things with your phone at the counter, but what about paying at the table in your favorite restaurant? Never fear, as Verifone will soon have you covered. Its upcoming Payware Mobile e355 wireless terminal lets stores accept any mobile payment you have, wherever you happen to be. It'll take Apple Pay, Google Wallet and other NFC tap-to-pay transactions, and the design is meant to accommodate as many device shapes and operating systems as possible. You may never have to break out your credit card just because the shop can't handle your new phone.
Disney World starts accepting Apple Pay and Google Wallet this week
Making a trip to Walt Disney World during the holidays? You might not avoid the long queues or endless parking lots, but you won't always have to pull out your wallet. As promised back in September, the Orlando area theme park will start accepting mobile payments on December 24th. The launch will let you use Apple Pay, Google Wallet and tap-to-pay credit cards to buy tickets, shop at stores and order from both bars and fast service restaurants. There are a few gaps. The system doesn't yet work at places that need a portable payment terminal, so you'll still have to break out the cash or plastic at a table service restaurant. You'll also have to wait until 2015 to get similar treatment at Disneyland in California. But hey, it's a start -- and it may save you a few headaches the next time you're jonesing to take a ride at Space Mountain. [Image credit: Kent Philips]
Google Wallet for iOS can now split your tab between friends
Apple still hasn't opened up NFC support for Google Wallet, but it doesn't mean Mountain View can't add some other sweet new features to the app's iOS version. This latest update brings in a handful of new functions, including Touch ID support that lets you unlock the app with your fingerprint and the ability to see your loyalty and gift cards offline. Best of all, though, the app now comes with a new "split charge" option -- just add the amount you want to divvy up, choose the users you want to split with and mark their share of the total. They'll then get a reminder to settle up, though they can choose to decline, as well. So, if you're friends with someone who seems to "forget" his wallet at home all the time, ask him to install the app. Just don't be surprised if, next thing you know, he's "lost" his phone, as well.
Google Wallet won't let you buy digital goods on the web past March 2015
Sad news, web merchants: if you relied on Google Wallet to process the online payments for your feline subculture e-zine (or any other digital product you've got kicking around), you'd better start looking for something else to do the job. On March 2, 2015, Google will officially pull the plug on its Wallet for Digital Goods API, which means anyone who hasn't switched to another payment processor -- like PayPal, for instance -- will be serve up 404s left and right to anyone trying to buy stuff from them.
Google Wallet now alerts you when your balance is low
You can't exactly use Google Wallet everywhere you go just yet, but if you do use it often enough to warrant semi-regular transfers from your bank, then you'll love its latest update. Now, you can activate recurring bank transfers, even pick the amount and the schedule (say, once a month or so) you want, to automatically replenish your digital dollars. That's especially useful if you depend on the physical Wallet card, which spends that balance every time it's charged. But in case Wallet balance doesn't matter as much -- say, you have an NFC-enabled Android phone and prefer to tap and pay mostly using credit -- then, you can also just program the app to let you know if it's almost out of cash. These features are available for both iOS and Android, as you can see after the break, but you can only use the tap-and-pay option if your NFC phone runs KitKat or higher.
Dabbling in the future of payment: A week of Apple Pay and Google Wallet
On Monday last week, Apple finally launched Apple Pay, the company's mobile-payment system that only works with the iPhone 6, 6 Plus and the latest iPads. (Though you can't use iPads for in-store payments.) Even though mobile payments have been around for several years now, Apple Pay is seen by many as a key step toward making paying-by-phone more mainstream due to all the increased attention. Seeing that I have an iPhone 6, I decided to use Apple Pay every day this past week to pay for everything from my groceries to a hot dog at AT&T Park during the World Series. Just to see how they would compare, I also tried using Google Wallet installed on a Samsung Galaxy S5 and a regular ol' credit card in the same locations. The verdict? Well, the future of mobile payments is looking brighter than ever, but that doesn't mean I'm getting rid of my wallet. Let me tell you why.
Drug stores drop Apple Pay and Google Wallet to push their own payment tech
If you're bent on using Apple Pay or Google Wallet for your shopping, you may have to be finicky about your choice of drug stores. Both CVS and Rite Aid have shut off their support for NFC-based payments just days after Apple Pay went live. Try to tap your phone and you'll get an error, or nothing at all. The companies haven't publicly discussed why they're cutting off the handy feature, but this is ultimately an attempt to stifle competition. Both pharmacies are part of the Merchant Customer Exchange, a retailer group whose its own QR code-based mobile wallet system (CurrentC) reaches these stores in 2015. As a memo obtained by SlashGear suggests, they'd rather deny all NFC payments than risk building support for rivals, particularly when they don't eliminate credit card fees like CurrentC does. Suffice it to say that this will be very inconvenient if you're a frequent customer, and you'll currently have to visit the likes of Duane Reade and Walgreens if you want to avoid paying with old-fashioned cash or plastic. [Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
What you need to know about the future of paying for stuff
We've virtualized much of the rest of the modern life -- why not payments? Plane tickets, banking and many other aspects of our lives now live on our phones. Payments still exist in the world of paper and plastic. Google has Google Wallet; Visa has payWave; MasterCard has PayPass; and American Express has ExpressPay. Apple just announced its own, with Apple Pay. If you've heard of any of these credit card services other than Apple's recently announced system and maybe Google's long-running program, we're impressed. You're in the minority; heck, one quarter of US citizens don't even own a standard credit card, let alone a virtualized one. But virtual payments are more prevalent by the year, and Apple Pay is giving the concept a much-needed publicity boost. So, all that said, let's talk about the future of payment. Don't throw away your wallet just yet.
YouTube now lets you tip your favorite video makers
If you've been itching to tip YouTube video producers, you'll be glad to know that you can finally reward those people for their hard work: the Fan Funding feature has launched in Australia, Japan, Mexico and the US. If a video host sets up a virtual tip jar, you can use your Google Wallet account (including any attached credit cards) to contribute right from a video page or the Android app. You can specify any amount you like, although YouTube will take a small cut to handle the deal; in the US, it's five percent of your donation plus another 21 cents. Support is coming to both other countries and iOS users soon, so don't despair if you can't contribute to your favorite channel just yet. [Image credit: Rego Korosi, Flickr]
Google's Wallet apps now handle your gift cards
Gift cards are supposed to be pleasant surprises, but they can frequently be headaches; assuming you remember to bring them in the first place, you have to keep tabs on any leftover credit. They should be easier to manage after today, though. Google has just rolled gift card support into the Wallet apps for both Android and iOS. All you have to do is either snap a photo of a card or type in its info. After that, you can safely leave the plastic at home. Some merchants, such as AMC, Best Buy and Whole Foods, will also show the remaining balance on their cards.
Google Wallet on Android now juggles all your internet accounts
As good as Google Wallet might be for payments, you've so far been locked into using one Google account; that's not so hot if a family member needs to borrow your phone to send some cash. That won't be an issue after today, since Google has updated Wallet's Android app with a tweaked interface that lets you use multiple Google accounts. You'll also get shipment updates for orders from distant retailers.
Google Wallet's tap-to-pay feature will require Android 4.4 KitKat starting April 14th
It's time to upgrade that old phone you've been using for Google Wallet payments at the local store. Google is now telling Android users that they'll have to run KitKat to use Wallet's tap-to-pay feature from April 14th onward. The company prefers the newer OS' "improved experience" for NFC-based payments; in other words, it would rather use a more universal, cloud-based approach to processing your banking info. You may be out of luck even if you are using KitKat, though, since the new requirements rule out support for the EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy Note 3 and 2012-era Nexus 7. We suspect that many Wallet fans are early adopters that already carry qualifying devices, but Google's move could have many shoppers looking for alternatives.
Google Wallet's new 'Orders' feature lets you track online shipments
Nice to see Google is keeping the regular Google Wallet updates coming. A few weeks after introducing loyalty card scans, the company is adding a feature called "Orders," which lets you track your online shipments using Google Wallet's iOS or Android app. In particular, you can view receipts for purchases you made online, as well as check the shipping status (Google says it's made arrangements with "primary package carriers in the US"). The roll-out appears to have already begun, though it could take a while for the update to reach some devices -- yours truly, for instance, is still waiting.
Google Wallet for iOS update adds loyalty card scans and merchant notifications
Last week, OCR-based loyalty card scanning was added to the Android version of Google Wallet, but today the iOS faithful can get in on the action. An update allows you to add all of those pesky rewards cards that clutter the ol' billfold and ditch the unsightly key ring tags. In addition to pulling info from scanned barcodes, the new version can simply read the text on your card and fill in the appropriate fields automatically -- useful for cards that pack magnetic strips instead of barcodes. If you'll recall, credit card snapshots were enabled on the iPhone change purse last month for adding a full range of payment options. In addition to the new frequent buyer functionality, Wallet will also notify you when you're strolling past a merchant that matches one of those saved memberships. You know, just in case you're having trouble finding the nearest GameStop.
Google Wallet will make collecting loyalty points easier and noisier
Early adopters of mobile wallet services are brave enough to hand over the keys to their finances in the name of convenience. When you're signed up to a plethora of loyalty schemes, though, inputting all these details before ditching the plastic could be quite the opposite. Google doesn't want you burdened with such tasks, and in an impending update to its Wallet app for Android, has said it'll introduce a new feature that adds loyalty cards with one click of your smartphone's camera shutter. A natural progression from the recent recognition feature that adds debit and credit card details in the same way, snap a picture of your loyalty card and Wallet will do the rest. Furthermore, when you're near a store with which you have a card, you'll get a notification to remind you (that Google knows all). While the Android app was updated yesterday, there's no mention of these additions, so we'll take Big G's word that it's "rolling out this week." No news on when an update could hit the iOS version of the app, but as Wallet only launched on the platform a few months ago, we're not going to hold our breath.
Google Wallet adds plastic to its payment repertoire, offers pre-paid debit card
Much as Google Wallet tried to get NFC and phones in general to be the payment form of the future, it seems that the company has realized that many folks are still attached to plastic. To meet that luddite demand, today Google began offering a pre-paid Google Wallet debit card to give access to your Google-fied funds when you don't have your handset handy. The card is issued as a MasterCard and grants ATM access, and is currently only available to US residents who have already been through Big G's identity verification process. Should you fit into that category of folks, you'll find all the info needed to sign up at the source links below.
Daily Roundup: PlayStation Vita hands-on, HP SlateBook x2 review, iOS 7 lockscreen bug, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Update for September 19, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Google Wallet released for the iPhone
Whoa, this one caught our newsroom off-guard: Google has finally brought Google Wallet to iOS, with a version that came out for the iPhone today. Along with the iOS release, Google has added the ability to send money from within the app. My husband, who uses Google Wallet on his Galaxy Nexus, pointed out that the interface has received an overhaul across the board with this release. You'll also be able to keep track of loyalty programs and receive offers targeted to Google Wallet users. About the only thing iOS users do not have is the ability to use tap-to-pay (obviously for NFC reasons). Google Wallet is a free download and requires iOS 6 or above. [via Engadget]
