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Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

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Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#21
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is traditional cash really a problem? What problems does cash solve that pucca shells do not? For me, it sounds like a super convenient way to replace my stupid thick wallet with a rubber band around my ID and some paper money.

Is traditional cash really a problem? What problems does cash solve that pucca shells do not? Seriously? The advantages are legion. It would take days to write them all out. I'll just put down a couple. You don't have multiple denominations of shells, so you have to carry around a wagon full of shells, instead of a few large bills. From a macro perspective, cash has even larger advantages. You can't conduct monetary…

If you have just one or two cards, I doubt you'd ever see the benefit. However I'm dying for a replacement for my bevy of cards:

- my personal amex

- my business amex

- my debit cards (multiple banks)

- my store cards (multiple)

- all my other ID-like and reward cards (ex: Costco, Avis, etc.).

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#22
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me, pocket room and security. I used to have to carry around a phone,keys, CD player, wallet, and camera. Now the camera and ipod are integrated into the phone, and I'm just carrying my phone, keys, and wallet. I really appreciate the extra pocket space, and I'd love to fold the wallet into the phone and get some more. The extra security of having a PIN on your wallet is just a bonus.

Not to mention, the possibility of wiping your phone remotely with a single action, instead of trying to remember which cards were in your wallet and calling each one separately.

this is an awesome point I didn't even consider. I use AndroidLost and am able to remote wipe my phone at anytime from a browser. Now that I think about it, I would much rather be able to use my phone for payments with this ability, than to carry a physical card and risk losing it or leaving it somewhere. Yes I make backups of my phone using custom recovery ( clockworkMod Recovery).

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#24
post #2

This could, and should be the future. Will it be? Probably not for a while, mostly because Visa and AMEX will launch their own competitive products. Stores will be forced to make a choice as to which system they support. Google will scream for everyone to adopt their "open" system while everyone else will complain about Google wanting to be a monopoly in this new field. The feds will intervene and we'll see years of…

I think it is the future and it will probably not take 10-20 years to have it implemented but rather more like 2-5 years. The race to become the platform is more important than the legal issues surrounding it. Whoever wins in this race will hold so many chips that they will gladly pay any legal speeding ticket. The merchants will get on board quickly as it will increase sales. I don't think Visa and Amex will compete…

The problem here is not implementation and smartphone support, but adoption by merchants. There're still shops that do not accept regular credit cards out there, and this is a new type of technology that they must somehow accomodate. So, yeah, 2-5 years to iron out the kinks, but about 10 to make it a real mainstream thing. And god help us if there will be competing standards.

Speaking of competing standards. I have this Visa "blink" card from Chase. The supermarket where I shop, has terminals that accept "blink". Guess how often can I use my card there? The thing works maybe once in ten times I actually am trying to pass my card over the sensor. It's just easier to swipe it in the first place.

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is the future and it will probably not take 10-20 years to have it implemented but rather more like 2-5 years. The race to become the platform is more important than the legal issues surrounding it. Whoever wins in this race will hold so many chips that they will gladly pay any legal speeding ticket. The merchants will get on board quickly as it will increase sales. I don't think Visa and Amex will compete…

The problem here is not implementation and smartphone support, but adoption by merchants. There're still shops that do not accept regular credit cards out there, and this is a new type of technology that they must somehow accomodate. So, yeah, 2-5 years to iron out the kinks, but about 10 to make it a real mainstream thing. And god help us if there will be competing standards. Speaking of competing standards. I have…

The convenience of mobile payments will make visiting cash-only countries like Austria and Netherlands (credit cards work, but only in some places so you always have to carry cash) even more awkward. Suddenly you have to think where to put that weird "paper money", or "plastic money" when you're used to only carrying your phone.

I wonder how people used to M-Pesa cope when outside of Kenya and the other countries where it works.

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention, the possibility of wiping your phone remotely with a single action, instead of trying to remember which cards were in your wallet and calling each one separately.

this is an awesome point I didn't even consider. I use AndroidLost and am able to remote wipe my phone at anytime from a browser. Now that I think about it, I would much rather be able to use my phone for payments with this ability, than to carry a physical card and risk losing it or leaving it somewhere. Yes I make backups of my phone using custom recovery ( clockworkMod Recovery).

You know you have your credit card blocked with one phone call, right? And that those not relay on it being on and having internet connection.

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#29
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is an awesome point I didn't even consider. I use AndroidLost and am able to remote wipe my phone at anytime from a browser. Now that I think about it, I would much rather be able to use my phone for payments with this ability, than to carry a physical card and risk losing it or leaving it somewhere. Yes I make backups of my phone using custom recovery ( clockworkMod Recovery).

You know you have your credit card blocked with one phone call, right? And that those not relay on it being on and having internet connection.

why even bother thats the point. With a regular credit card, you'll have to request a new card and number, wait for it in the mail, and now change all your accounts that are associated with it. With my phone, remotely wipe my sd card / lock out my phone. Track it down, and restore. Much easier. I have missplaced my credit card before, and the loss of my phone is more noticeable and quicker in general than my credit card that I didn't realize was missing till the next time I went to use it.

Re: Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, AmEx and Discover

#30
post #7

Are traditional wallets really a problem? What exactly is the problem that is being solved here?

Google not collecting information on every purchase you make?

Oh you meant for the users? I guess the short term gain is receipt maintenance. Long term you can get rid of the wallet itself. Long term we'll have biometric cloud authentication so you won't need the smartphone either.

There's probably some law enforcement angle as well; as physical cash transactions fade away, organized crime will be easier to monitor.

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