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Google Just Launched Another Answer To Apple Pay (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the another-stab-at-it dept.

Google launched its latest answer to Apple Pay on Tuesday. It's called Google Pay and replaces Android Pay, a previous solution that let Android users buy goods with their smartphones. From a report: It's also Google's answer to Apple Pay and Apple Pay Cash. Google Pay follows several failed attempts by Google to launch a widespread payment platform. The company launched Google Wallet several years ago before folding it and launching Android Pay. Google Pay combines features from both, including the ability to pay at checkout counters with a smartphone, and even the option to scan into transit systems in cities such as Kiev, London and Portland, initially.

4 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Still trying to Monetize it? by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Are they still trying to insinuate themselves into each and every transaction, so they can both datamine and line their pockets?

    Yes, Apple does get a REALLY small transaction-fee; but otherwise, is COMPLETELY blind to the transaction itself.

    I think the transaction fees as simply aggregated into a lump-sum payment to Apple, with absolutely NO per-transaction information divulged to them.

    Until Google will accept that model (which I am SURE they will never do), they can go pound sand.

  2. Too bad they just can't work together. by jellomizer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why can't I use my Apple Device to send Cash to an Android User? Why do stores need to support each device separately?

    While I ask the question, the answer is relatively simple. Each company wants to be the leader in the area, and wants their technology to win, so they don't need to pay royalties to the other.

    Sometimes competition is good, other times it steps on each other and creates problems for the consumers that most just don't want to deal with.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  3. The whole reason I have an Android phone... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...is that you never need to associate a bank account or credit card with it.

  4. Re:Copying Apple for 3+ years by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We are trying desperately to copy Apple for 3+ years and now we have mastered it. Now you can pay with Google Pay with as much ease as Apple Pay. You also get the benefit that we will associate your payment with your gmail, hangout chat messages, location, search, android phone unique id and others. Eventually, we will be able to create your clone who knows more about you than you and will pass the remote identity test better than you can. Good luck if ever our data is compromised either by internal employees or external hack.

    Funny, but Google's been doing the payment thing far longer than Apple - Google Wallet's been around since Android's been around and Google's been doing NFC payments before NFC hit the iPhone (at least for years before).

    The only thing is, Apple Pay is based on standards - EMV. It's really at the very bottom an implementation (ignoring extra Apple pay frilly things for now). That's why It Just Worked at a lot of merchants - if they supported tap (NFC), they implicitly supported Apple Pay as well. The only hard part was getting banks enrolled, but that was more of an Apple and bank thing.

    Google Wallet was based on a debit card - you paid, Google was told about the transaction and Google then charged you. This double-billing meant it was easy to get funding sources (Google even ate the transaction fees), but it required retailer support.

    Google wanted to insert themselves into every transaction. Apple Pay was a more secure credit card.

    The only thing that's going wierdly is all the frilly stuff, like Apple pay being used to outdo paypal by offering person-to-person funding transfers as well. Those things aren't likely to take off.