Major Change Coming to Google Wallet

**Kurokikaze** · 2012-11-02 09:37

Normally I would post this kind of information in the Tech section or in the Android thread.. but the news is much more banking related and I wanted to gauge the opinion of everyone else. Also this won't just be Android specific - it is going to be available on iOS and web browsers.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/11...-new-features/

We just had a bomb dropped on us by an anonymous tipster, courtesy of a leaked version of the Google Wallet app - and it was hiding some pretty amazing secrets. Let's cut to the chase: physical Google Wallet card. That's happening, and you'll be able to get one, probably soon.
The physical Google Wallet card will work just like a regular credit card. Whatever your currently selected default card on the Wallet app is, the Wallet card will charge to. It will work anywhere major credit cards are accepted. This is for those scenarios where you don't have (or want to use) tap and pay. Imagine leaving all your credit cards at home from now on, and just carrying one, and your phone. Sure, it's not the magical future of using your phone to pay everywhere with a painless tap (let's face it, tap payments are rarely painless anyway), but this is awesome nonetheless.
http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-cont...WdeU_thumb.png

And you can get this card straight through the app, sent to your house, as our anonymous tipster did (he even got a confirmation email):
http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-cont...S093_thumb.png
http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-cont...ard_thumb1.png
I've got to say, this is pretty awesome. We knew Google was going to announce something big for Wallet soon (there's even a sign up page), but we had no idea a physical card was in the works.
This is only part of the story, though. Other awesome new features are coming to Wallet as well. The ability to deposit and withdraw money to and from a "Wallet Balance" is being added (hopefully, this will integrate with the Play Store), as well as person to person money transfers. Transit cards? Wallet's got transit cards.
http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-cont...vUxl_thumb.png
Wow. This is a lot to soak up. Wallet's shaping up to be a major contender in the mobile payment world yet again, and we couldn't be more excited. And no, unfortunately, we don't know anything about availability outside of the US.
The other important implication? The physical Wallet card could make carrier approval for Wallet a thing of the past unless you want to use tap payments. Google could publish a version of the Wallet app without NFC permissions that just allows you to switch between your cards, that could be installed on any phone (even iOS or Windows Phone, theoretically), and you just use the Wallet card for payments. That's pretty cool. And could seriously reduce the chance of rival mobile payment systems of catching on. Google really does seem to have thrown a wrench in the works of the likes of ISIS and other competing systems.
Thanks, Anon!

There are a few more images in the news post.

TLDR: Google Wallet is basically going to become Google Voice for your physical wallet. One card linked to all of your debit/credit cards allowing you to use the app or web page to change the "default" card that will be getting charged. Possibly transit card linking in the future.

I personally am very much looking forward to not carrying all my cards in my wallet. Also I like the added benefit of only having to deactivate the Google Wallet card if I were to lose it, instead of going through my bank and cancelling the card, waiting on a new one, changing all recurring payments to different card.

It's got it's uses! What do you guys think?

**shepardG** · 2012-11-02 09:44

Shadow run.

**Haiko** · 2012-11-02 10:26

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

**Haiko** · 2012-11-02 10:28

I can't believe no one posted about the Nexus 4 for only fucking $299 UNLOCKED.

http://www.google.com/nexus/4/

**Eanae** · 2012-11-02 10:34

$299 unlocked with no LTE.

**TacoTaru** · 2012-11-02 10:37

Originally Posted by Haiko

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

Truth. The only concern I would have is the card change not being reflected immediately and the wrong account being charged. Assuming that's a non-issue, gimme dat card.

**Kurokikaze** · 2012-11-02 10:38

Originally Posted by Eanae

$299 unlocked with no LTE.

Adding LTE would lock the phone into a carrier and thus raise the price to the norm for an unlocked phone (~500-600). I'm buying the 16GB Nexus 4 on day 1. It is currently impossible to make a phone that cheap with LTE. If it's any consolation... the phone is compatible with T-Mobiles HSPA+ 42mbps network. Those speeds are more than enough for what anyone is doing on their phone.

Originally Posted by Haiko

I for one welcome our Google overlords.

Amen brother!

**Eanae** · 2012-11-02 10:41

Originally Posted by Kurokikaze

Adding LTE would lock the phone into a carrier and thus raise the price to the norm for an unlocked phone (~500-600). I'm buying the 16GB Nexus 4 on day 1.

Amen brother!

I'm aware of that. But until it can do LTE it's hardly worth it. Plenty of other android phones you can choose from that come with LTE. Being carrier unlocked is pretty pointless unless you travel out of country often.

**Kurokikaze** · 2012-11-02 10:56

Originally Posted by Eanae

I'm aware of that. But until it can do LTE it's hardly worth it. Plenty of other android phones you can choose from that come with LTE. Being carrier unlocked is pretty pointless unless you travel out of country often.

Um... no. Fuck contracts bro. I only buy unlocked phones these days. The moment T-Mobile stops giving me what I need of it - I'm gone.

Either way, that's not what this thread is about.

**Kaisha** · 2012-11-02 11:00

Sounds like a great way to mask your real credit card's info for online purchases.

**Kerberoz** · 2012-11-02 14:09

How long until Nexus 6? Buying one of those even if it sucks ass.

**Tricen** · 2012-11-02 14:24

What does unlocked and LTE mean? I'm 100% phone dumb when it comes to this stuff.

**tyven** · 2012-11-02 14:28

unlocked means it can be used on any carrier

idk how to describe LTE, data speed? data network?

**Tricen** · 2012-11-02 14:29

Oh gotcha, LTE doesn't have anything to do with pay plans. So you can get the phone for 300$ and get whatever carrier you want? That's kinda sweet. What carriers don't have contracts that aren't awful?

**Headspace** · 2012-11-02 15:06

Originally Posted by Tricen

. What carriers don't have contracts that aren't awful?

lol

**Tricen** · 2012-11-02 15:14

Did I word that wrong? I know AT&T is shit where I live. I get like no reception.

**Cantih** · 2012-11-02 15:33

If I can load it with cash, and people start dumping paypal for it, I will be a happy person.

**Mazmaz** · 2012-11-02 19:50

How has Google not gotten hacked yet?

**Kanriel** · 2012-11-02 20:02

http://www.google.com/onceuponatime/tisp/install.html

Is that serious, and it works? And do you basically have to never use that toilet again?

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2012-11-02 20:28

If you can configure it to charge certain cards at certain places (like drawing from my Kwik Trip credit card when I buy shit at Kwik Trip, then draw from my Debit card for other places) that would be nice.

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