Tag: android pay

ATMs to Support Apple and Android Pay

Because many retailers still don’t offer NFC support for payments, life is still not as easy as it could be if among other things smartphones could also be used to do ATM transactions as well. This is precisely what Bank of America and Wells Fargo are working on offering at their ATMs in the US.

“We’ve been working on the technology that allows us to hook to digital wallets, leveraging NFC on mobile phones to replace the card at the transaction at the ATM. Right now the wallet that we support is Android Pay,” says Jonathan Velline, Wells Fargo’s Head of ATMs.

Similarly, Bank of America is also working of employing NFC at its ATMs. It should be made available in February in some ATMs in Silicon Valley, New York, San Francisco, Charlotte and Boston. Even though Bank of America has not explicitly mentioned which wallets would be supported, we can assume them to be Apple and Android Pay for now.

While these potential developments sound fancy and appealing, there is no news on when they will be available in India as well. Hold your breath until we update you about the next development on this front.

Source

January 29, 2016
Android Pay Purchases Will Donate to Special Needs Education

Google has revealed that it will be donating up to a $1 million dollars to the education of 6.4 million special needs children. With every Android Pay purchase in the US, the company would give a dollar as donation for the betterment of the American special needs education system.

This announcement comes as an extension of Google’s Global Impact Challenge: Disabilities initiative. Google has teamed up with DonorsChoose.org and started the programme on the 24th of November right through to 31st December. Additionally, the donation amount will be doubled for every Android Purchase on Black Friday, owing to Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

The initiative is only confined to the US as of now.

November 25, 2015
Top 5 Android Marshmallow Features

Last night, at the Google I/O Conference, we got a first look at the next big Android update. Google detailed the new features that are going to be made available with Android Marshmallow.

We’ve already spoken about all the major announcements, we’re now bringing the spotlight to Android M. Are you wondering what sets it apart from Lollipop? Check out the list below.

Clearer Security Permissions

When you launch a newly downloaded app, do the permissions you’re ‘Accepting’ ever worry you? To make things simpler for users, Google has removed that step and instead you’re now going to be asked for a permission, when you choose to use a particular feature within an app. For example, if you’re using WhatsApp and you would like to send a picture directly from the chat box, a pop-up will appear requesting WhatsApp to access your camera.

So how this essentially helps you is that instead of hurriedly accepting the permissions on downloading an app, this way, you know exactly the functions a particular app has access to. This change is very similar to the way iOS handles their app permissions.

Now on Tap

The company has taken Google Now one step further with ‘Now on Tap’. This feature is not just available with a single tap of a button, it can now be launched while you’re viewing a particular webpage or an app. For example, if you’re viewing a friend’s Facebook profile, you can use Now on Tap to find out more details about the person. It may then link you to the person’s Twitter and Instagram profile.

Another quick example, if you’re discussing a restaurant with a friend via chat, Now on Tap can give you details about the eatery. All in all, it can be launched to give context to anything you’re doing – without having to leave an app.

‘Doze’ to Save your Battery

With the new feature ‘Doze’, Android gives your phone the ability to detect if the smartphone has been left unattended for a while. In which case, M will reduce the background activity, giving the phone longer battery life.

Android Pay

At the conference Google also announced Android Pay. Like every other mobile payment system, it will enable Android users to simply and securely use their Android phones to pay in stores or for Android Pay partner apps. Google has taken this one step ahead, it has added useful fingerprint support which allows users to confirm a purchase with their fingerprint. The newly-added fingerprint support can also be used to unlock devices. The company promises that it works consistently across a range of devices and sensors.

Image Credit: Gazette Review

This is only the first look at the latest version of Android. At the conference, Google stressed upon the fact that the company will continue to work on developing it further. Android M is expected to release later this year.

Easier to “Cut, Copy, Paste”

Google understands the number of time we need to copy and paste text from one tab to another. Hence it is going to be making our life easier by bringing the options right above the text we want to cut, instead of at the top of the screen. It may not seem like a major change, but it’s small features like these that combine to make our phone usage quick.

October 1, 2015
Google Finally Releases its NFC Payment System Android Pay

Android Pay, the revamped Google Wallet app, was launched in the US in a number of locations. The Android Pay will be a one-touch payment app much like the Apple Pay, using NFC technology and Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.

Existing Google Wallet customers can update the app and see it morph into the Android Wallet. Google launched a separate app Google Wallet app that focuses on person-to-person payments between friends and family like Square Cash and Venmo.

In their blog Google describes the new app as “easy, fast, and free to send money directly from your bank account, debit card or Wallet Balance. When you receive money through Google Wallet, you can spend it using your Google Wallet Card wherever Debit MasterCard® is accepted in the US, use your Wallet Card to withdraw it from participating ATMs, or cash out to a debit card or linked bank account.”

However, as of now if one tries to download the new app, users will not find it as Android Pay, but rather Google Wallet (New) with its logo similar to the old Google Wallet app but with softer colors much like the recently changed Google logo. This can cause some confusion to users initially. Google will most likely work out the bugs and come out with a separate Android Pay.

The app will be made available in new locations and will support Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards from banks including Bank of America, US Bank, PNC, and others. The app will come pre-loaded on new Android phones. No details on when the app will come to India.

Click here to download.

September 12, 2015
Reports Suggest Google’s Android Pay Might Release This Week

Apart from its burgers and fries, McDonald’s is also known for being quite tech savvy. They have free Wi-Fi, complimentary iPads and were even one of Apple Pay’s first few partners. Now, recent information also suggests that the McDonald’s is preparing employees to be ready for the new Android Pay system.

The exact date of release, that has been indicated by a leaked memo is said to be on the 26th of August 2015. The Android Pay was announced at Google’s I/O developer conference in May and is said to launch in the United States first.

Android Pay relieves users from the hassle of carrying cards and the payment is done at merchants’ contactless terminals. Simply unlock the device and as soon as you place it near the machine’s NFC reader, a card interface will pop up automatically. Fingerprint scanning isn’t a must. Pick from the virtual cards to complete your payment. With this, you are done. Payment confirmation and transaction details will be received on your smartphone. There is no need to call up Android Pay and put in a separate PIN or password to authenticate payments. Android Pay deals with all by integrating with the security of the operating system.

The Android Pay has the same results as Apple Pay – you can swipe your phone instead of using cash or cards. Further reports also suggest that the new Android Pay will run on the Android KitKat or above.

However, Google has not made any official statement about the release of their new feature.

August 24, 2015
OnePlus Defends OnePlus 2 and for Making People ‘Settle’

It is a known fact that the OnePlus 2 doesn’t include the NFC, however users and potential customers have been unhappy about this. Therefore, today on a Reddit – Ask Me Anything, four employees of the company fielded questions on everything, such as the voice-over-LTE, the lack of NFC and other such matters. For those who aren’t aware of the term, NFC or Near Field Communication is a short range wireless RFID technology, that can be used for touch-based payments or wireless charging.

Apart from this, OnePlus has been faced with some very serious questions about their taglines and not being able to match up to them. For example, their tagline that says “innovations from the future,” or “Never Settle” and claiming to follow a philosophy that essentially warrants them to create a device without gimmicks, bloatware or compromises; have all been under the radar recently.

A Redditor asked that “with such a powerful mantra like that, wouldn’t it be ironic to settle without quick-charging or wireless charging if I choose your phone?” Here is what OnePlus said:

We’ve always said that never settle is true for us too. That means, if you’re not happy with the product you shouldn’t settle for ours either. With the OnePlus 2, we made the set of choices that we think delivers the best user experience, but because users are not the same they won’t all feel the same. That’s fine – we’ll work hard to make each iteration better than the last.

Adding to this, an employee also mentioned the power of the new Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology, as being able to charge a phone from 0% to 100% in approximately 2 hours. Despite this, there have been comparisons with the Nexus 6, that is said to charge enough for the entire day in just one hour. Another aspect that has been criticized, is the inability of the OnePlus 2 to take advantage of the NFC-based Android Pay.

Last but not the least, OnePlus was asked about a recent interview given by Carl Pei at USA Today, speaking about the release of a third device; to which an employee confirmed that there will most definitely be another OnePlus smartphone, however it won’t be called the OnePlus 3 or OnePlus 2S.

Do you think OnePlus has responded adequately to the queries of its users?

For more information: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/3fmkb5/oneplus_ama_postlaunch_edition/”]Reddit.com[/tw-button]

August 4, 2015
Here’s How Android Pay Can Pose a Threat to Apple Pay

Along with unveiling the brand new version of Android OS, Android M, at the annual developers conference I/0 2015, Google cleared its vision to help customers buy regular products with utmost ease. The tech powerhouse showed the Android community its recent development on mobile payments that made Android lovers applaud Google. The ace up its sleeves was Android Pay, through which Google was aiming at Apple’s contactless payment service, Apple Pay. However Android Pay came late into the mobile payment battle, it has certain distinctive features that would strengthen its position in this domain. Let’s check out how it works and how it can contribute to making our lives easier.

How to Use it?

Android Pay relieves users from the hassle of carrying cards and the payment is done at merchants’ contactless terminals. Simply unlock the device and as soon as you place it near the machine’s NFC reader, a card interface will pop up automatically. Fingerprint scanning isn’t a must. Pick from the virtual cards to complete your payment. With this, you are done. Payment confirmation and transaction details will be received on your smartphone. There is no need to call up Android Pay and put in a separate PIN or password to authenticate payments. Android Pay deals with all by integrating with the security of the operating system. The feature is much easier to use with Android M as devices equipped with the latest Android OS version supports fingerprint reading just like Apple Pay.

Along with that, Google has thought of another strategy to allure Android users. As the users checkout, the loyalty programs and special offers automatically apply. This way, loyalty programs and offers get received along with payments, which is essential for the contactless payment system.

Here’s the video demonstrating the use of Android Pay:

https://youtu.be/OueObu2aA_M

The technology governing Android Pay is analogous to the one regulating Apple Pay. It makes use of the similar NFC (Near Field Communications) technology, which is regular on most Android smartphones these days. Together with that, current software is all that is needed for Android Pay to run on any Android handset. Google has partnered with top payment processors, mobile carriers, payment networks, banks and retailers to deliver your choice and flexibility. The bank apps also pay a pivotal role of integrating with Google’s platform to add your credit and debit cards directly to Android Pay.

Talking about the security parameters equipped in Android Pay, the tokenization method spotted on Apple Pay dominates Google’s payment system as well. A virtual account number is created for the user so that retailers never come to know your actual card details.

Why it is likely to beat Apple Pay?

Google’s payment system will give a major boost to mobile payment. Users can pay in stores, food courts, buy apps, and at every possible place where Android Pay or an NFC logo is visible. According to the company, the feature arriving this summer will work in 7,00,000 stores in the US and with a 1,000 Android apps.

Though Apple Pay is efficient, its usage is limited to those using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch and iPad. On the contrary, Android Pay is expected to work with all smartphones with Android 4.4 KitKat and above. Considering the vast user base of Android, Android Pay is likely to take over Apple Pay in the near future. Android users account for more than 80 per cent of the smartphone users. Even if a small per cent of total Android user base utilizes Android Pay, it will easily surpass Apple Pay users.

The second factor that will add to Android Pay’s success is its compatibility with older phones. The feature will allow even the 2013 models to work with Android Pay such as Galaxy S4, HTC One M7, and more. As there will be more users, more retailers would like to install the NFC payment system at their stores. This way, Google will penetrate deep into the mobile payment segment than Apple, in spite of the fact that Apple came in early in October last year.

Meanwhile, there is no detail about it coming to countries outside the US, but we are anticipating it to arrive in India later this year.

June 1, 2015