Google Acquires Softcard Technology, Inks Deal With Carriers to Pre-Install Google Wallet on Android Devices

[wikiverse]

The funny thing is to see Samsung and Google going again for different solutions, messing things up in an already fragments operative system

Not true. Google Wallet and ApplePay are not available in many countries... like South Korea (Samsung's native market), or Australia (Which has 10x more NFC terminals than the US and 4x more than the UK.)

Samsung is putting payment solutions into their devices to allow their consumers in those countries to access mobile payments as well.

Neither Google nor Apple have announced a timeline to expand into other countries.

 

[FelixAng]

Does Google still require SSN for Google Wallet?

 

[ILikeAllOS]

Google has had NFC built into some Android phones for years now and Google Wallet has been around equally as long, yet Google could never make any headway into the market.
Pay comes out and after only a few months Apple makes up 2/3rds of all NFC terminal purchases from retailers.

Give it up Google, you lost.
It's time for Apple to lead the market - again.

 

[Michael Goff]

Google has had NFC built into some Android phones for years now and Google Wallet has been around equally as long, yet Google could never make any headway into the market.
Pay comes out and after only a few months Apple makes up 2/3rds of all NFC terminal purchases from retailers.

Give it up Google, you lost.
It's time for Apple to lead the market - again.

In what market are they leading?

 

[kdarling]

"Follower" if you define failed first attempts as "leaders". GW failed because of lack of security, privacy and ease of use.

As far as security goes, GW has always been using a token account. And it's certainly easy to use.

However, carriers blocked its use, in order to promote their own Softcard wallet.

In early 2014, Google changed GW to bypass the carriers. Later on, Apple Pay also bypassed the carriers.

Now Softcard doesn't have a carrier lock on wallets any more. It's the one that failed.

... and suddenly mobile contactless payments become very important to everyone

Sure, more people became aware of contactless payments. That will continue to happen for all sorts of reasons.

To the people who have been using GW for contactless payments for years, it was already relevant and useful.

Does Google still require SSN for Google Wallet?

PayPal is the same way.

Due to the Patriot Act, anyone who's transferring funds, is required to submit user identification to be matched against a national database.

It is meant to prevent money laundering by terrorists or drug providers.

I'm not sure that you need to submit separate id if you're just using credit cards that have already had an id confirmed during registration. But using bank accounts, cash, etc... yes.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

The benefit to the consumer is clear. Apple Pay is a LOT more secure than using a credit card. You no longer have to worry about merchants getting breached or some gas attendant or waiter stealing your cc info.

Despite all of the media hype, fraud doesn't happen enough to make me focus on security when comparing payment options. As I said:

I've had my AMEX and MC numbers stolen twice in 25 years of having credit cards. AMEX and Citi flagged the purchases within hours, long before I would have noticed, and reversed them. I had a new card the next day, and it was no skin off my nose. Fraud isn't a compelling reason for me to use AP or Wallet.

 

[ggibson913]

I think this is a good thing. I used to have an Android phone and at least locally for me the mobile payments part almost never worked. I was never able to get either Softcard or Google Pay to work anywhere. Apple Pay seems to work a bit better for me but not 100%.

 

[dabotsonline]

The issue I have with Google Wallet on my Note 4 is that all the purchases come through as Google and goes to the services category on my credit card. I get 5% rewards on gas, groceries and drugstores and 1% on everything else. If I use Google Wallet at one of my premium categories I don't get premium rewards. This is on my AMEX.

Does ApplePay carry through the category reward on the credit card charge?

This is something that I would like to know as well.

 

[samcraig]

Ah-hah! I'm going to trust my financial and biometric information to a device that requires an Antivirus to be safe, and whose Cloud is managed by a company that makes a living of data-mining.
Yeah right! Why I just don't Tweet my personal info to the world!?

"requires" - that's like saying Apple requires you to update your iPhone to their new version every two years. No - it's not required. In fact, I have yet to know anyone who has antivirus on their phone.

"Follower" if you define failed first attempts as "leaders". GW failed because of lack of security, privacy and ease of use. Apple took their time and addressed all of those shortcomings with Apple Pay. Others had fingerprint ID readers, but they were all clunky and unreliable. Apple introduced the first reliable, easy to use biometric sensor: Touch ID. In both cases, you see how the competition is following Apple's lead because they were the first to get it right.

That's not at all why GW failed. If that's what you think - you weren't paying attention or simply want to post a biased comment in favor of Apple Pay.
Apple Pay doesn't need the "support" from you - it's a great solution.

 

[Arcus]

The biggest problem I have is the implementation at the POS.

In my area there are very few stores that accept Apple Pay. Shop Rite and Whole Foods being the two biggest. Unless the POS has an Apple Pay logo I dont bother trying since sometimes it will fail after the transaction has almost gone all the way through.

Then they ask you to sign or ask for a PIN, even for purchases less than $5. From my understanding neither of these is necessary.

Until they get this all worked out this is not worth the trouble

 

[unplugme71]

I will never use Google Pay due to its involvement with ISIS.

"... Softcard, formerly known as Isis Mobile Wallet..."

----------

"requires" - that's like saying Apple requires you to update your iPhone to their new version every two years. No - it's not required. In fact, I have yet to know anyone who has antivirus on their phone.



That's not at all why GW failed. If that's what you think - you weren't paying attention or simply want to post a biased comment in favor of Apple Pay.
Apple Pay doesn't need the "support" from you - it's a great solution.

I will say the Touch ID has a higher accuracy rate of working than some gov implemented fingerprint sensors.

 

[Karma*Police]

As far as security goes, GW has always been using a token account. And it's certainly easy to use.

However, carriers blocked its use, in order to promote their own Softcard wallet.

In early 2014, Google changed GW to bypass the carriers. Later on, Apple Pay also bypassed the carriers.

Now Softcard doesn't have a carrier lock on wallets any more. It's the one that failed.

Using tokens doesn't make it secure. In fact, GW was hacked twice not long after launch. And it's certainly not easy to use. You have to enter a PIN which is more cumbersome than swiping a card, not to mention not very secure.

 

[Menel]

The issue I have with Google Wallet on my Note 4 is that all the purchases come through as Google and goes to the services category on my credit card. I get 5% rewards on gas, groceries and drugstores and 1% on everything else. If I use Google Wallet at one of my premium categories I don't get premium rewards. This is on my AMEX.

Does ApplePay carry through the category reward on the credit card charge?

This is something that I would like to know as well.

Yes, you get merchant specific rewards with Apple Pay.

GoogleWallet is partnered with Bancorp, they issue a proxy debit card, this muddles the transaction information before it gets to your issuing bank and reward programs. Your transaction information passes through too many hands.
Bonus: This allows ANY card to work.
Bonus2: This allows Google to mine more information from it's sheeple.

ApplePay doesn't insert any middleman into the process. The token transmitted, goes straight back to your card issuer for translating Tokens. They they get the merchant information as if you did a normal swipe.

 

[Menel]

I will never use Google Pay due to its involvement with ISIS.

"... Softcard, formerly known as Isis Mobile Wallet..."

FYI ISIS (Mobile Wallet) had nothing to do with ISIL (middle east).

----------

Does Google still require SSN for Google Wallet?

Most likely, because they issue a Bancorp Bank debit card in your name, to be the middleman in the transaction. This part likely requires SSN.

----------

The biggest problem I have is the implementation at the POS.

In my area there are very few stores that accept Apple Pay. Shop Rite and Whole Foods being the two biggest. Unless the POS has an Apple Pay logo I dont bother trying since sometimes it will fail after the transaction has almost gone all the way through.

Then they ask you to sign or ask for a PIN, even for purchases less than $5. From my understanding neither of these is necessary.

Until they get this all worked out this is not worth the trouble

PIN is required for *Debit* cards.
Have it process like *Credit*, or specifically use a Credit Card.

Every place with NFC enabled has worked for me. ApplePay branding or not.

The POS implementation will improve, Retailers are notorously slow with technology rollouts. There will be a big push through the summer and fall as the Oct2015 liability deadline looms closer.

 

[the8thark]

Except you don't need an iPhone to have a secure and closed environment.

I never said you did. I just said an iPhone is one such device. It is theoretically possible for other closed and secure smartphones to exist.

 

[Max(IT)]

Not true. Google Wallet and ApplePay are not available in many countries... like South Korea (Samsung's native market), or Australia (Which has 10x more NFC terminals than the US and 4x more than the UK.)

Samsung is putting payment solutions into their devices to allow their consumers in those countries to access mobile payments as well.

Neither Google nor Apple have announced a timeline to expand into other countries.

And as usual Samsung chose the wrong one....

----------

Sure, more people became aware of contactless payments. That will continue to happen for all sorts of reasons.

To the people who have been using GW for contactless payments for years, it was already relevant

Do you mean the ten people who have been using Google Wallet?

----------

FYI ISIS (Mobile Wallet) had nothing to do with ISIL (middle east).

the actual name of the terrorist's organization is ISIS and I suppose they changed mobile wallet name for that reason

 

[Menel]

the actual name of the terrorist's organization is ISIS and I suppose they changed mobile wallet name for that reason

Uhhhh the terrorist group is ISIL... according to everything from WIKI to Mainstream Media... which is what I wrote and you quoted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISIL_beheading_incidents
ISIL_beheading_incidents

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...-islamic-state-libya-threat-vatican/23842455/
Italy and Vatican on guard after ISIL threat

 

[Max(IT)]

Uhhhh the terrorist group is ISIL... according to everything from WIKI to Mainstream Media... which is what I wrote and you quoted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISIL_beheading_incidents
ISIL_beheading_incidents

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...-islamic-state-libya-threat-vatican/23842455/
Italy and Vatican on guard after ISIL threat

Read the link you provided:


The name is also commonly translated as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS /ˈaɪsɪs/).[26]

Today is known as ISIS, even if both names are legit.

Look at the picture (top right corner)

 

[abowlby]

At this point vendor support is what will determine the success or failure of these services.

 

[Col4bin]

Nice editing. Google Wallet can be used at any NFC enabled merchant, which is exactly the same number as where Apple Pay can be used.

From your link:

You just made my point, thank you. 10% of all U.S.-based merchants currently accpet Google Wallet. What am I missing with regards to your reply.

 

[unplugme71]

FYI ISIS (Mobile Wallet) had nothing to do with ISIL (middle east).

----------



Most likely, because they issue a Bancorp Bank debit card in your name, to be the middleman in the transaction. This part likely requires SSN.

----------

PIN is required for *Debit* cards.
Have it process like *Credit*, or specifically use a Credit Card.

Every place with NFC enabled has worked for me. ApplePay branding or not.

The POS implementation will improve, Retailers are notorously slow with technology rollouts. There will be a big push through the summer and fall as the Oct2015 liability deadline looms closer.

(ISIS) Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

and yes, its the same.

 

[jimi78]

I wonder when exactly they changed their name from ISIS to Softcard. they probably didn't see that one coming.

 

[LordVic]

I wonder when exactly they changed their name from ISIS to Softcard. they probably didn't see that one coming.

They changed their name in September in direct response to the threat overseas.

http://androidandme.com/2014/09/applications/isis-mobile-payment-officially-renaming-to-softcard/

 

[SlCKB0Y]

You just made my point, thank you. 10% of all U.S.-based merchants currently accpet Google Wallet. What am I missing with regards to your reply.

I assumed your implication was that Apple Pay was more widely accepted. It isn't. If a vendor can process Apple Pay they can process Google Wallet.

If your comment was about NFC payments in general, well the US is about to get a whole lot more vendors supporting it and else where in the world, NFC payments are ubiquitous.

 

[Michael Goff]

I never said you did. I just said an iPhone is one such device. It is theoretically possible for other closed and secure smartphones to exist.

Then why did you say that some people aren't smart in response to a comment about how some people don't want iPhones? Seriously, the way you put it is to infer a connection. Stop trolling and stick with what you said.