Google is reportedly preparing to release a physical version of its Google Wallet electronic payment system, offering an actual card.
The Google Wallet Card is intended for instances when customers cannot use the software-based, smartphone bound Google Wallet because a merchant does not support Near-Field Communication (NFC) payments.
Tech Web site Android Police has published screenshots received from an anonymous tipster, showing the app with an option to request a credit card from Google. According to the screenshots, the yet unannounced Google Wallet Card syncs with any accounts connected to the user's Wallet service and can be used where major credit and debit cards are accepted.
The app even recommends that users leave their wallets at home altogether and bring the single Google Wallet card, which will serve them where NFC-enabled tap and pay features are not available. Users will also be able to redeem special offers by using the Google Wallet card.
According to the report, Wallet is due to get a bunch of other features as well, including person-to-person money transfers, the ability to add or withdraw money from a Google Wallet balance, as well as a transit feature that seems to be able to replace the cards used for access to buses and trains.
Google Wallet is a service offering a variety of solutions to pay online and in stores using NFC technology, but it has struggled to gain relevance among fierce competition and limited availability on smartphones. Notable competitors to the Google Wallet service include PayPal, Square, and the carrier-supported Isis project, all of which are aiming to create a mainstream virtual wallet for consumers.
Back in August, Google started to allow users to load their existing plastics into the smartphone app to enable NFC payments. Google has not commented on Android Police's Wallet card report, but has announced other welcome changes to Wallet.
Google is updating its Application Programming Interface (API) so that merchants can enable payments using the mobile versions of their Web sites. Merchants can now add a "pay with Google Wallet" button to their sites, allowing users to check out using cards stored inside their Wallet.
"Typically, on mobile websites, you need to key in 17-20 fields of information on a small screen while having to click and scroll through multiple pages to provide shipping and billing information," Google's Barak Turovky said in a Nov. 1 blog post. "It's no wonder up to 97 percent of mobile shoppers abandon their mobile shopping carts. Google Wallet makes it easy and secure for you."
Streamlining the process so that it only takes three steps to complete a purchase will presumably lead to a greater number of successful transactions. Google is currently working with several online merchants, including MovieTickets.com, 1-800-Flowers.com, FiveGuys.com, Finnish Line, Seamless, SwimOutlet.com, and RockPoint.com to implement its streamlined Web payment process.
