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Google Wallet Launches With $10 Credit

Posted by Soulskill on from the making-your-phone-even-more-irreplacable dept.

Following up on our digital wallet discussion yesterday, CWmike writes "Google officially launched its Google Wallet application today for NFC-ready Sprint Nexus S 4G phone users. The application launches initially for Citi MasterCard credit card holders, but Google also said today that Visa, Discover and American Express will be able to add their cards to future versions of Google Wallet. The application, first announced in May, was described in an official blog post. Visa said in a separate statement that it has licensed Google to use Visa's PayWave technology, used in 'hundreds of thousands' of terminals worldwide. But Visa didn't describe a timeline for when that function would be enabled. Google said it will allow users to add any bank card to a Google Prepaid Card and they will receive $10 to try the service." Reviews of the service are popping up, and many seem to say the same thing; when it works, it's great, but your real wallet isn't going anywhere.

5 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. So what does this actually do? by Todd+Knarr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, if my physical wallet isn't going anywhere because I still need it for all the cards, cash and stuff I need to carry that I can't put on my phone, and I still need actual cards for merchants who don't have the right tech at their registers, what exactly does Google Wallet do for me? I can't think of a time when I'd have my phone and wouldn't have my wallet on me, so it's not convenience. About all it seems to do is enable Google to watch what I purchase. Sorry, I'm going to need something of benefit to me first.

    1. Re:So what does this actually do? by Karganeth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yawn. It's clearly progress. Ideally everything in your wallet could be in your phone, so this is just a step towards that. It's not pointless, its progress.

    2. Re:So what does this actually do? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What about your credit card in that wallet?

  2. If Google were out of the equation, I'd use it. by mTor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I simply do not trust Google with anything personal and I will not use this service.

  3. Terms and conditions: by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unfortunately, to receive the $10 credit, you have to have the NFC chip implanted either in the forehead or the back of the hand....