Google Wallet Now Allows Automatic Transfers

Google has released an update to its Wallet mobile app that allows automatic transfers to your bank account. Choose a debit card or bank account to link to your Google Wallet, which you can enable for automatic transfers. It’s nice to see Google update this app with more functionally. Mobile payments are the future (in my opinion) and there needs to be more options out there. What do you think of Google Wallet ? 

Google Rumored To Lauch Android Pay In May

It appears that Google plans to launch Android Pay at its Google I/O conference in May, following its purchase of Softcard earlier this week. The new Android Pay solution, is set to take on Apple Pay as a revamp to Google’s ailing Google Wallet product that’s been around since 2011. Like Apple Pay, Android Pay will reportedly allow companies to add a mobile payments option to their app, to which users can upload credit card or debit card information, so that payments become single-tap transactions within the app. Google announced earlier this week that along with its Softcard acquisition, it has formed a partnership with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T for Google Wallet to be pre-installed on Android devices. 

Google Wallet Benefiting From Apple Pay

Apple Pay has been grabbing everyones attention with mobile payments last month, Google Wallet launched back in 2011 having failed to make the same kind of splash, it appears that Google may be benefiting from the publicity generated by Apple. Sources have reported that Google Wallet has seen the number of users almost double, with a 50% increase in weekly transactions during the past couple of months. Google Wallet works in a similar way to Apple Pay, providing a virtual payment card on a smartphone, though without fingerprint authorization for transactions. Apple Pay is currently only available to U.S. cardholders. If you want to compare Google Wallet to Apple Pay for yourself, an iOS app is available as a free download here.

If A Retailer Use CurrentC They Can’t Use Apple Pay

Retailers who decide to use the CurrentC mobile payment system must do so exclusively, dropping access any NFC payment system like Apple Pay. The Merchant Customer Exchange CEO Dekkers Davidson says retailers "make their own decisions" on selecting CurrentC, and any retailers who choose to back out from the service will not be fined. "When merchants choose to work with MCX, they choose to do so exclusively and we're proud of the long list of merchants who have partnered with us,". Its also reported that retailers cannot accept rival payment systems like Apple Pay and breaking MCX contracts result in steep fines. "Importantly, if a merchant decides to stop working with MCX, there are no fines,". Recently, Rite Aid and CVS cut off access to NFC enabled payment services like Apple Pay and Google wallet. Both companies are part of MCX, and will use the CurrentC payment system. Other outlets joining MCX include Best Buy, Target and Walmart. For those who don't know CurrentC is a mobile app that processes payments at stores using either QR codes or numeric codes. The app will integrate gift cards, coupons and personal checking accounts.