May 26, 2011

OK. Google is really going places to make its presence felt outside the virtual domain. If Android @home is the 1st step in taking Google "practically". Here comes the 2nd master stroke from Google. Google in its blog post unveiled a new feature, they call it Google Wallet. Google Wallet, basically is an android app which aims at replacing all those plastic cards(credit cards) in your pocket with Google Wallet. Sound's pretty interesting right?



Google delved into the potential of Wallet: “When you tap to pay, your phone will also automatically redeem offers and earn loyalty points for you. Someday, even things like boarding passes, tickets, ID and keys could be stored in Google Wallet.”


How it Works?


Walk into a store which accepts Google Wallet, open Google Wallet app on your android(NFC enabled Nexus S), just tap the screen and you payment amount will be automatically credited from your account. 
Google Wallet currently supports citi bank. You have to set up a your citi bank account with google wallet. If you don't own any citi bank cards, you can buy Google prepaid card.


Google Prepaid Card is a virtual card that you can fund with any of your existing credit cards -- no Citi MasterCard required. After you activate the Google Prepaid Card in Google Wallet, you’ll get $10 in your account. Your first $10 spent with Google Wallet is on us.
You can then top up the card with additional funds from any of your plastic cards. You’ll pay no fees to top up your Google Prepaid Card at least until the end of 2011. Since the Google Prepaid Card is purely virtual, you won’t get an actual card in the mail. 

Doesn't that sound cool?

Primarily, Google Wallet is only confined to U.S