Google to Test Mobile Payment Service Within 4 Months

From DailyTech: Within four months time, customers will be allowed to ring up purchases using their phones at stores in both New York and San Francisco.

Near field communication, or NFC technology, is short-range wireless technology that consists of an initiator and a target. It allows mobile device users to use their cell phones to ring up purchases at a register, eliminating the need for cash or credit cards. It works by tapping the mobile device at a register, and the NFC chip, which holds the user's financial account information, interacts with a device at the register allowing for payment.

While many phones are just now adopting this new technology, some are already using it. Google already has a head start with Samsung's Nexus S phone, which uses NFC technology for transactions. Also, Nokia has noted that it plans to release NFC phones in the future as well. In addition, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile will be using the ISIS system, which allows for mobile payments through Discover Financial Services.

Google released Android 2.3.3 with new NFC capabilities, allowing user's to exchange payments wirelessly and perform other transactions such as paying for transportation.

Now, Google is looking to test a mobile payment service on its phones in San Francisco and New York stores within the next four months. Google plans to pay VeriFone Systems Inc. to install thousands of cash register systems made specifically for the use of NFC technology. Google's new service may group a user's financial information, coupons, gift card balances, etc. all on one NFC chip.

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