Launching Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, American Express and Discover. Google Wallet Goes Live, But You Probably Won’t Be Able to Use It Yet. As rumored, Google just announced that it is officially launching its cell phone-based mobile payment solution Google Wallet today. After introducing the service in May and launching a limited trial at the time, Google today launched it nationwide, in partnership with Citi, MasterCard, Sprint and First Data.
For now, however, you won’t be able to just swipe your phone past one of the many compatible PayPass payment terminals unless you use Google’s flagship Nexus S phone on Sprint’s network. Given these limitations, today’s “launch” is really more of an expanded field trial than anything else. MasterCard and Sprint Only For now, restricting Google Wallet to one credit card company, phone and carrier means that most of us won’t be able to use it anytime soon. Do Mainstream Users Care? As I have argued in the past, I’m not sure the market in the U.S. is really ready for NFC-enabled payment solutions yet. Google Wallet. Google to Unveil Mobile Payments Platform. Confirmed: Google Wallet NFC payment system launches tomorrow, retail partners in tow | This is my next... NFC mobile payment ‘Google Wallet’ confirmed for Thursday press event. Google Gives Everyone $10 to Try New Google Wallet...but There's a Catch. Google's NFC-enabled mobile wallet was announced this morning in partnership with mobile operator Sprint, issuing bank Citi and payment network MasterCard.
But did you know that you don't have to be a Citi card holder to try the service? As it turns out, Google is also offering a free "virtual" card which you can load up with funds from any account. And to get you enthused about testing this new mobile payments technology, Google is giving everyone $10 for free to get started. Hey! Free Money! According to the Google Wallet website, the Google Prepaid Card is a virtual credit card which you can fund with any of your existing credit card accounts. The funding source doesn't have to be Citi, nor does it have to be a MasterCard. And here's the best part: Google will give you $10 for free just for activating its PrePaid Card. Is There a Catch? How very Minority Report. But that's Google for you. Did it succeed? Google Wallet: Handicapping why it will (and won't) work.
Google has launched its big move into mobile payments with Google Wallet. The big questions revolve around Google Wallet adoption and whether the search giant and partners can finally make mobile payments a reality. First, Google's announcement of its mobile payment plans in New York featured a lot of heavy hitters in the retail and payment industry. With that start, Google is hoping more retailers, merchants and banks will join its effort. Google's vice president of commerce Stephanie Tilenius said an open ecosystem will set Google Wallet, which includes an Offers feature, apart. Gallery: Google wants to revolutionize shopping (photos) As noted previously, mobile commerce has the tech industry behind it.
And Near Field Communication chips, which allow data to travel between two devices, like a smartphone and point-of-sale terminal, are ready to infiltrate smartphones. Whether Google Wallet is a success or not will depend on multiple factors. Pros: Low risk transactions seed the market. PayPal Lawsuit Against Google Reveals Recruiting Saga And A Deal Gone Sour. Google is making a bold play to enter mobile payments, and PayPal doesn’t like it one bit. Shortly after Google announced its new mobile wallet for Android phones today, Paypal filed a lawsuit against Google and two former PayPal executives who now are in charge of mobile payments at Google (Osama Bedier and Stephanie Tilenius). The complaint (embedded below) alleges “misappropriation of trade secrets, and “breach of fiduciary duty.” It revolves around Osama Bedier, who was the VP of Platform, Mobile, and New Ventures at PayPal before he was recruited to work at Google by Android chief Andy Rubin, Google co-founder Larry Page, and Bedier’s former PayPal colleague Stephanie Tilenius (who now heads up Commerce and Payments at Google, and I interviewed yesterday onstage at Disrupt NYC).
The lawsuit reveals that Google was negotiatiating with PayPal for two years to power payments on mobile devices. By 2010, the executive in charge of the negotiations for PayPal was Osama Bedier. Google Responds To PayPal Lawsuit: People Have The Right To Seek Better Jobs. Yesterday, PayPal filed a lawsuit against Google and two of its executives for stealing trade secrets. The lawsuit came on the same day that Google announced its mobile wallet plans involving Android phones with NFC chips. The two executives, Osama Bedier and Stephanie Tilenius, previously worked at PayPal. In fact, Bedier was in charge of negotiating a deal with Google on behalf of PayPal for inclusion of PayPal as a payment mechanism in Android phones.
The deal fell through and Google hired away Bedier instead, who then helped build Google’s own mobile wallet product. At least that is PayPal’s side of the story. “Silicon Valley was built on the ability of individuals to use their knowledge and expertise to seek better employment opportunities, an idea recognized by both California law and public policy. Let’s parse this statement a bit. Sure, they can take their knowledge, but they can’t take trade secrets. High-profile employment disputes are nothing new in Silicon Valley.