Home › News ›

Google Testing Hands Free Mobile Payments

Article Comments

Mar 2, 2016, 11:38 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Google today announced a new pilot program that will allow people to pay for goods and services without taking their phone out of their pocket. Hands Free Payments relies on location data, WiFi, Bluetooth beacons, and other sensors to detect nearby participating stores. Users need only say "I'll pay with Google" to the cashier, who confirms shoppers' identity with their initials and profile photo. Google is also testing in-store, camera-based visual identification methods for automatic verification. Google says all images captured by the Hands Free in-store camera are deleted as soon as the transaction concludes and cannot be accessed by the retailer nor even Google. Hands Free does not share full credit card numbers with the retailer and stores payment details securely. Transactions can only be completed when the phone is in or near the store. The service provides instant notifications after every purchase for verification, and can alert users to unusual activity. Transactions deemed suspicious won't be approved. The Hands Free app can be used on any Android device running 4.2 Jelly Bean and up, and the iPhone 4s and up. An Android Pay account is not required, but Android Pay users can associate the same credit/debit card with their Hands Free account if they wish. Hands Free Payments are being tested in a very limited pilot program in the South Bay, near Google's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. McDonalds and Papa Johns are participating in the pilot, along with some local retailers. Google didn't say how long the pilot will last, nor when it might expand to other retailers and regions. The Hands Free app is free to download from the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.

Related

Samsung Upgrades its Wearables

Aug 10, 2022
Alongside its new foldable phones, Samsung has revealed its newest smartwatches and Bluetooth earbuds, each with significant engineering improvements. The new Galaxy Watch5 has a 13% larger battery and 60% more durable face compared to the Watch4.

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.

Eight US States to Support Digital Driver’s Licenses in Apple Wallet

Sep 1, 2021
Residents of Arizona and Georgia will soon be able to add a secure digital version of their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on their iPhone and/or Apple Watch. Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah have also announced plans to support Apple's implementation.

Qualcomm Intros Snapdragon Chips for 2023's Mid-Range & Affordable 5G Phones

Sep 6, 2022
Qualcomm has just announced the two chips that will power a great number of entry-level and mid-range Android phones in 2023: the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. Both chips integrate a 5G modem and include upgraded performance as well as new features compared to the chips they replace.

Apple Watch Goes Ultra

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has refreshed its Apple Watch lineup with Series 8, a new Watch SE, and added a larger, more rugged Apple Watch Ultra for athletes and extreme adventurers. Apple Watch Series 8 has two main upgrades over Series 7: temperature sensors and Crash Detection.

more news about:

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

No messages

Page 1 of 1