Thursday, November 1, 2012

Physical Google Wallet credit card reportedly in the works

Physical Google Wallet credit card reportedly in the works

Game changer (credit: Android Police)

Google may be soon drop a bombshell on the mobile commerce world as a report surfaced Thursday the company is preparing to launch a physical credit card.

Dubbed the "Google Wallet card," this piece of plastic is for those times users can't tap and pay.

It will work just like a regular credit card any where major credit and debit cards are accepted.

The news comes from an anonymous tipster who told Android Police he already received a confirmation email for his card.

Cut up the others

According to the Google Wallet cards set-up instructions (provided by the tipster), users can add credit and debit cards to the Google Wallet app, then use any of them in stores by using just the Google Wallet card.

To make purchases swipe the Wallet card and their default card in the Google Wallet app will be charged.

Whenever users want to swap the card, they can simply select a different card through the app.

All cards - except Google's - can stay at home.

Google Wallet instructions
Swipe it and swap it with ease (Credit: Android Police)

The card can be ordered through the Google Wallet app and sent to recipients' addresses.

Access to exclusive offers is also available and deals are instantly redeemable. If the card is lost, all a user needs to do is cancel their Google Wallet card - not every card they own.

Big surprises

This may very well be the service Google recently opened sign ups for, though that new service seemingly suggested the app would soon open to more devices, including iOS products.

However, it could all be part of a huge Google scheme to conquer the mobile (and beyond) commerce world.

While a physical card steals the lede, other new features are reportedly on the way as well.

A "Wallet Balance" feature looks like it will let users deposit and withdraw funds while a person-to-person money transfer feature is also coming.

There's also signs a transit card is part of the new Google Wallet package.

Whether the card and new features will extend beyond the U.S. isn't yet clear, but all this could make carrier approval obsolete for everything but tap payments.

A Wallet card would let owners of iOS and Windows Phone devices utilize a non-NFC version of the Google Wallet app, too.

Until Google makes all of this official, competitors and consumers alike are going to be watching Google with eager eyes.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/physical-google-wallet-credit-card-reportedly-in-the-works-1109411

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