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Google Rebrands All Its Payment Solutions As 'Google Pay' (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the fifth-times-a-charm dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Google just announced that it is merging all of its various payment programs into a single brand, called "Google Pay." Google Pay will be a one-stop shop for all your Google Payment needs: NFC smartphone payments, P2P transfers, and Web payments. Google's payment solution site has already clicked over to the new branding, and we'd guess a rebrand of the Android Pay app won't be far behind. The branding should start popping up on store credit card machines, too. So "Google Pay" is the new brand for every kind of payment Google offers -- all without the platform-specific branding problems of Android Pay. Google says this is "just the first step for Google Pay" and it "can't wait to share more."

69 comments

  1. I use this thing called Cash by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2

    It's legally accepted anywhere for all payment of debts and transactions.

    It has no surcharge.

    It has no interest rate to use it.

    And it has the signature of a Bond Villain on it!

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    1. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Known+Nutter · · Score: 1

      It's legally accepted anywhere for all payment of debts and transactions.

      Not so fast...

      --
      Beware of the Leopard.
    2. Re:I use this thing called Cash by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but that's not very appy.

      Bow to your Gappsung Pay overlords!

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    3. Re:I use this thing called Cash by taustin · · Score: 2

      Can you provide me with a detailed HowTo for paying Google in cash for my Drive account?

    4. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 3, Informative

      Business don’t have to accept cash...

      This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

      https://www.treasury.gov/resou...

      This is easily findable in about 10 seconds...

    5. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They don't have to accept cash as up-front payment for goods but they do have to accept it for payment of debts, such as after you have eaten a meal at a restaurant, after you have had repairs/maintenance done or after you have arrived at your destination in a cab.

    6. Re:I use this thing called Cash by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      Tell that to the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS). You can restrict how you accept cash, but you have to accept it.

      For example, I can't pay more than $10,00 in pennies. But you can't refuse a $10 bill. You could say you don't carry pennies. And if I owed $9.98 then I'd lose $0.02 on the transaction, but since it's less than the usual and customary $0.25 to $0.40 carrying charge for debit and credit services, it's still cheaper for me to use a $10 bill.

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      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    7. Re:I use this thing called Cash by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      This might surprise you, but you EARN interest using credit cards, as long as you pay them off. Not to mention the cashback which is just free money.

    8. Re:I use this thing called Cash by SoulMaster · · Score: 2

      As noted above, this is directly from the treasury:

      There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services.

      https://www.federalreserve.gov...

      If you have a case you're citing where SCOTUS required cash payment, then cite it. Otherwise, you are wrong. Businesses absolutely do not have to accept cash.

      More info here https://www.patriotsoftware.co... :

      Can a business refuse cash?
      Federal law makes U.S. currency a legal tender for paying debts. As a small business owner, you must accept dollars for your products or services. This doesn’t mean paper notes. You can accept electronic dollars as payment.

      Private businesses can create their own payment policies, including ones that restrict cash payments. You can say that customers must pay with a credit card, check, or money order. You can also ban large bills at your business.

      Bottom line—you can accept payments in whatever form you want. Here’s why:

      No federal law requires businesses to accept cash.
      You only need to accept cash when someone owes a debt. If the customer pays before you provide the product or service, you don’t have to accept cash.
      You need to establish a cash payment policy before a transaction occurs. You can’t change your policy mid-transaction or refuse someone’s paper bills when you say that you accept cash. As long as you tell customers upfront that you don’t accept cash, you can refuse cash payments.

    9. Re:I use this thing called Cash by omnichad · · Score: 1

      free money

      Where free money is defined as higher prices in consumer goods to cover credit card processing fees by retailers that is only partially refunded to you in the form of rewards if you choose to use a card. Sure, if you pay cash you usually pay the same price and get nothing - but it's still not free money.

    10. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Threni · · Score: 1

      > It's legally accepted anywhere for all payment of debts and transactions.

      Not all payments. Try paying more than 1000 euros in cash in france, for example for paying someone to do your kitchen, or you're selling a car.

    11. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise.

      For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

      I don't know about you, but the above two blocks -- which are actually directly following each other in your quote -- seem to be talking about fully different things. The first about "no cash", and the other about how some forms of cash can be accepted over another.

      In the second block the first example squashing someone who wants to pay larger sums in fery small denominations only, or how they do not need to accept both the dollar coin and the bill variety (presumably because coins are easier to handle by a machine), the second about how over-large denominations do not need to be accepted (which would put a burden on the merchant to have lots of cash in their tills - which isn't a good idea)

      In short, if what you have quoted is actually whats in that document the writers of it where not really thinking thru what message they wanted to convey (or god forbid, the rule they wanted to set) ...

    12. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      It's legally accepted anywhere for all payment of debts and transactions.

      You'll struggle in Sweden, they don't really take cash payments there in a lot of places. Where I live in the UK, people are likely to refuse payments if you have to pay for something over 100GBP in cash and even then, because of all the different bank notes where I'm in, cash fraud is pretty common, so you may get rejected regardless.

      It has no surcharge.

      Using my Credit card doesn't typically have a surcharge for most transactions.

      It has no interest rate to use it.

      Nor do I have an interest rate to use my credit card.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    13. Re: I use this thing called Cash by peragrin · · Score: 2

      No cash isn't cheaper unless the store has a policy of cash getting discounts(some gas stations due).

      If the price of good is x then you pay x whether or not you pay by cash, credit or debit. Each has its own fees and cash is still higher than credit cards.

      Don't believe cash has a fee well you need to pay someone to watch, manage count and deposit cash. Someone who is getting paid more than minimum wage and two three hours daily That you are open.

      That's a continuous expense that online only stores don't have. And is one of several reasons why they are cheaper to operate.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    14. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      paying off debt vs paying for stuff is very different.

      For repaying a debt, they *have* to accept cash. It's the law. For paying for services and goods, they can be picky (and so can you; you don't have to do business with them).

      it gets fuzzy in cases like paying for a meal at a restaurant. IMO, since you've eaten the meal, you now owe a debt to the restaurant, and they have to accept cash (they may not accept your flavor of bitcoin or credit card, but they *must* accept cash---even if they claim they don't).

      you have the right not to be in debt, and that's exactly what the dollar ensures. otherwise you'd have debts that can never be repaid just because the lender refuses your payments (e.g. ``that dollar looks wrinkly, I won't accept it. only pay off your debt with 1902 silver dollar coins without scratches on them'').

    15. Re:I use this thing called Cash by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Sure, if you pay cash you usually pay the same price and get nothing - but it's still not free money.

      Pay cash- same price, no cash back.
      Credit- same price, cash back.

      Call it what you want. Prices are cheaper with credit cards with the cash back, and they are actually extending you an interest-free line of credit over the course of a month.

    16. Re:I use this thing called Cash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It does however have a hidden cost to it. Shops have to pay people to count it, and take it to the bank, and stock up on smaller denominations because most people don't pay with the exact change, it also often takes more time dealing with change than it does processing card payments.

  2. Pay Google by goombah99 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder why they didn't use that term

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  3. Impressive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For once Google has actually consolidated services instead of pumping out yet another one that competes with the 5 others that they already have that do the exact same thing.

    1. Re:Impressive by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Don't worry, the "share more" phase alluded to in TFS will be when they announce a completely different service that does the same thing, using the same technologies; but somehow none of the devices you already have will be able to make use of it, and then they will summarily execute Google Pay.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    2. Re:Impressive by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Yeah - and just wait until someone goes to the cash register with their laptop and signs in to "Google Pay" and wonders why it doesn't work. "Google Pay" only works at the register if it's also Android Pay anyway. Fragmentation can sometimes avoid confusion.

    3. Re:Impressive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And if your wallet gets stolen and you have to cancel your credit/debit cards. How do you pay off all those accounts while you wait for new cards to be sent to you?

    4. Re:Impressive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the fuck are you talking about? Non-sequitur much?

    5. Re:Impressive by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      How many people brought a Macbook to the cash register to try and use "Apple Pay"?

    6. Re:Impressive by omnichad · · Score: 1

      I don't know the exact number, but they are probably all over 50.

    7. Re:Impressive by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      Do you have any examples of this actually happening, or are you just saying old people are too stupid for technology?

    8. Re:Impressive by omnichad · · Score: 1

      I'm saying that branding is important and I'm talking purely theoretical. Old people are not too stupid for technology, but you have to have a lot more free time on your hands to keep up with all the nuances of everything under one name - and be willing to spend that time deciphering technology branding.

  4. Rebranding : "Don Traitore" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's his prison name... I wonder if he'll be raped to death? Let's ask superfag kendall or his boyfriend shanghai bill, the apologist faggots surely have a worthless nazi take on this...

  5. Why not by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    Alphabet Pay?

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    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Why not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because fuck you - that's why!

    2. Re:Why not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alphabetti spaghetti!

    3. Re:Why not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alphabet Pay?

      Go out and ask 100 random people if they know who Alphabet is.

      Now do the same for Google.

    4. Re:Why not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure more people know the alphabet than what Google is.

      Go ask your local toddler if they know what Google is. I'm pretty sure they have heard the alphabet song.

      Now, YouTube on the other hand...I don't think there is a kid above the age of 6 who hasn't been given YouTube by their parents to keep them contented and quiet.

  6. Hope they will fix Messaging on Android next... by bogaboga · · Score: 1

    Look guys, to me, Messaging on Android has always been a big mess. I don't know why seemeingly smart folks at Google can't fix this. I sometimes wonder whether these folks use the products they author.

    If they did, and cared, they'd see the mess we ordinary folk find ourselves in. This page throws some light on the issue.

    1. Re:Hope they will fix Messaging on Android next... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Age old standards issue. If they made an app that worked with the other messaging protocols, they would be onto a winner. Even the article writer says they use facebook and whatsapp, because that where their friends are.

    2. Re:Hope they will fix Messaging on Android next... by metamatic · · Score: 1

      They had an app which worked with others — Google Talk, using XMPP. They got rid of it, and eventually closed the XMPP gateway, at which point I stopped using their IM systems.

      --
      GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
  7. One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by Noishkel · · Score: 1

    Google isn't even trust worthy enough to handle my email without (trying) to monetizing it. So I sure as hell aren't going to give them access to my financial services.

    1. Re:One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by farble1670 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Google isn't even trust worthy enough to handle my email without (trying) to monetizing it.

      Why would you possibly think a corporation is going to spend billions in resources, servers, developers, electricity, hardware, and bandwidth without trying to monetize it? Are you new here (on Earth that is)?

    2. Re:One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by sheramil · · Score: 1

      Why would you possibly think a corporation is going to spend billions in resources, servers, developers, electricity, hardware, and bandwidth without trying to monetize it? Are you new here (on Earth that is)?

      (tiny voice)... altruism? Yeah, I don't think so, either.

    3. Re:One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 1

      Google isn't even trust worthy enough to handle my email without (trying) to monetizing it. So I sure as hell aren't going to give them access to my financial services.

      Damned straight!

      I'm never going to let any organization monetize my money.

    4. Re:One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by laykon · · Score: 1

      Even the banks monetize your money. So, if you don't want that happen, you can buy a safe and put your money there.

    5. Re:One more Google product I REFUST TO USE. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the WOOOOSH! is strong in this one!

  8. Note: This feature is only available in the US. by jrumney · · Score: 1

    Many of Google's payment programs are US only. If they are merging them all into one program, does this mean that we can no longer pay for Android Apps outside of the US? Or have they made global agreements so we can pay with our Android phones at retailers globally now?

    1. Re:Note: This feature is only available in the US. by starless · · Score: 1

      Or have they made global agreements so we can pay with our Android phones at retailers globally now?

      Last month I used Android pay on my phone at a number of retailers in France.
      Or, are you asking a different question?

    2. Re:Note: This feature is only available in the US. by jrumney · · Score: 1

      This is interesting, because France is one of those countries where they explicitly don't support the service. I guess if they are compatible with some standard (like the one Paywave and whatever Mastercard calls it use) it might still work. But on the website I initially found for Android Pay it said "Note: This feature is only available in the US", while on another website I found comparing the different mobile payment options from Google, Apple and Samsung it lists 17 countries.

      I'm just not convinced that putting 6 different payment services under one brand is going to reduce confusion. Is the India-only payment system suddenly going to become compatible with Android Pay used elsewhere, or are they going to remain mutually incompatible but with the same branding? If I can use Google Pay to pay for apps online, why can I not use it in stores via NFC when other people can?

  9. aka You Pay by n329619 · · Score: 1

    because you're the one who's really paying in the end.

  10. I must be a dinosaur by stabiesoft · · Score: 1

    I use either cash or CC. With CC I get rewards, & free money for the month. I always pay the CC at the end of the month. The CC also offers extended warranty in some cases. What bene's are there to paying with the phone?

    1. Re: I must be a dinosaur by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You realise that all these NFC payment systems (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay etc) are just more convenient, and more secure ways of using your existing credit cards, right?

      You register your CC with the phone and then use it to carry out secured transactions that have a guarantee that the shop canâ(TM)t clone your card or grab your info from it. Plus, you no longer have to carry your CC or bother getting things out of your pocket or wallet.

  11. Maybe they will fix it so it works? by toonces33 · · Score: 1

    Because it doesn't now. The Marshmallow update broke the thing so I just pay cash or use an EMV card.

  12. Not to be confused with by farble1670 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Google Wallet
    Android Pay
    Google Checkout
    Pay With Google

    and now:

    Google Pay (not to be confused with Google Payments).

    1. Re:Not to be confused with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I read it as Google Play

      https://cnhv.co/1f15

    2. Re: Not to be confused with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also Google Tez

    3. Re:Not to be confused with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So if you don't like Google Pay, wait a week and they'll have rolled out something new.

  13. Bitpay, Request, Utrust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For crypto payment systems. As well as the dark web payments systems.

  14. Honestly by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    I wasn't aware they had anything other than Google Pay.

    (I should probably get out of the basement more often.)

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Honestly by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Google Pay didn't exist until now. There were so many other combinations of "Google" and "Android" and "Wallet" and "Checkout" and "Pay" but not those specific two words together.

    2. Re:Honestly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't understand. isn't Google Pay exactly what Google Wallet used to be? Google Wallet was originally one app, then they split it up and made Google Wallet (p2p payments), Android Pay (nfc payment) and Google Play (in app purchases)--it used to say pay with Wallet at one point (and Google Checkout).

      Now they are merging them back together again? And into an app that sounds like Google Play.

      Also, that's a terrible name. If I use a game and try to buy something with In-app purchase, now it will ask me if I want to pay for Google Play with Google Pay? Maybe if you confuse the users they won't notice how much they are spending?

    3. Re:Honestly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ZR3um4q20

      Confusion helps.

    4. Re:Honestly by omnichad · · Score: 1

      The name didn't exist, I don't think.

    5. Re:Honestly by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      The name didn't exist, I don't think.

      Ya, what I meant to say was, I wasn't aware that Google had more than one form of payment.

      (Thanks to omnichad for straightening me out on the names.)

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  15. Who uses Apple/Google/Samsung/etc "Pay" apps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I live in Keene, New Hampshire which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. We're two hours from Boston and an hour from any other city. The only thing I see people using regularly at restaurants and the like which is some sort of phone payment is the crypto currencies. Mainly Dash and before that Bitcoin. Where are all these people using these proprietary systems? I just don't get it. Is New Hampshire just ahead of the curve? I see people use plastic and cash a lot too- but those aren't electronic payment options in the same sense or at all in the later.

  16. google has jumped the shark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All the brilliant engineers in the world, and the best they can do is replicate existing services...now they can't even come up with a creative name for it. At least with the facebook clone they called it "google plus". Now the Apple Pay clone is just Google Pay. come on.

  17. Re: I AM a dinosaur by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you no longer have to carry your CC

    Nope, just a phone.

    or bother getting things out of your pocket

    Like a phone? Not everybody has a surgically implanted phone.

    guarantee that the shop can't clone your card

    The phone in this role is no different to using the CC PayPass or PayWave facility (MasterCard and Visa respectively). The card never leaves your hand and is never inserted into a machine. Whatever the RFID circuit sends for PayPass/PayWave can, of course, be kept and misused. The Google virtual card used by the NFC process is no less susceptible to having whatever information it sends kept though.

    just more convenient

    The phone weighs more, is physically larger, and needs power: all negatives IMHO.

  18. Too late for the UK by JohnStock · · Score: 1

    After Google procrastinated with Google Pay in the UK a couple of years ago, competitors like banks got in first in the UK. Too little too late Google.

    1. Re:Too late for the UK by Geeky · · Score: 1

      Did they? Which of the services now being lumped into Google Pay are you thinking of?

      Maybe banks win for personal transfers, but Android Pay has some traction. If anything, it's Paypal that got there first for web purchases. I find it easier to use Paypal for things like Netflix and other subscriptions so that it's only one account I need to update when my credit card expires. If Google gave sites a similar ability to accept payment via a Google Play account I'd use that instead.

      --
      Sigs are so 1990s. No way would I be seen dead with one.
  19. Big Google is Watching by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 1

    Now they can more easily track and correlate your purchases to be able to charge more for the information they sell about you.

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    There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
  20. Re: I AM a dinosaur by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope, just a phone.

    Or a wa tch.

  21. Re: I AM a dinosaur by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Android Pay (er, Google Pay, whatever) is more secure than using your credit card directly, because it uses a virtual credit card number.