In an article in All Things Digital that I receive daily on my nookColor, Google has launched an application that turns your phone into a wallet. Users can load money onto a Google Prepaid card or use their own credit card. Pretty nifty I must say, especially for those always on the go. Now for the questions I began to ask while reading the article and later found out.
1. How do you use it?
~ Users wave their phones at participating stores when paying like they would the Mastercard PayPass. As of right now there are only 150,000 merchants that carry PayPass. In the Google Wallet app, there is a built in map for where the Mastercard PayPass locations are.
2. What credit cards are accepted on the app?
~ Right now Citi MasterCard is the only one that be directly added according to All Things Digital, but users can use the Google Prepaid card and load money with other credit cards. Later on Google expects to work with Visa, Discover, and American Express.
3. What about the security?
~ Users have to enter a four-digit pass code before paying for items that way they will not be paying for items unexpectedly. This code can be set up on a time limit.
4. Is this available for all smart phones?
~ No, right now in the U.S. the only phone that works with Google Wallet is the Nexus S 4G. According to All Things Digital more phones will soon be compatible.
This application seems really neat, but I'm still not to keen on the idea of "money in my phone". What if someone lost their phone or had their bag stolen with their phone in it? I know there is a security feature, but this is probably something I would not use myself. I asked a few family members if they would consider using the application if it became available to them, 4 said no and 1 said yes. The reasoning behind their answers? The ones who said no said they would not want to use it in fear of "having their information easily accessed." The family member that said yes mentioned "less to carry and it seemed like it would be easy to use."
My questions to you: What do you think? Would you use this new app? What are your thoughts about it?
Click here to read All Things Digital article about the Google Wallet App
