I made my first transaction today using Google Wallet on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and much of my concerns about spending money with my phone were answered.
I didn’t read how to use Google Wallet on purpose and approached a clerk in Sheetz who was clueless about what I was doing. It’s a pretty idiot proof transaction.
I woke up the phone and face unlocked before holding the phone against the paypass unit. Touched the unit with the phone and the phone prompted me to tap in the pin I had set up when I signed up with Google Wallet. (The app also times out when you are not using it requiring the pin.) The paypass unit blinked. I pulled away my phone. My phone told me to tap my phone against the paypass unit again. Verification of the transaction showed on my phone screen.
Both the initial contact and transaction are displayed real-time in the log. As is what remains in your Google Prepaid Card.
When you set up Google Wallet, Google gives you $10 . Thanks for lunch Google! You can also choose to add a Citi MasterCard and apply gift cards.
This is an electronic wallet. It’s taking cash out of your bank with your bank card and putting it into your wallet only there isn’t any cash and your phone is the wallet. So the transaction is going between Google and the retail point not your bank account.
There are also coupons and deals that are national and GPS based regional, redeemed at the time of transaction.
This would also be a great time to set up Google’s 2-step password verification process. With this system each connection with the Google cloud (each device and things like Chrome browser sync) have a specific Google generated password. So any device or service connected to the Google cloud can be revoked by your dashboard. Also, all browser connections to your Google account will have a 30 day expiration.
This is perfect for my demo devices that all sync to the same Google Account. I can sign in and revoke one at any time without ever using my master password on any mobile device. Likewise, if you lose your phone, you can kill it’s link to the cloud from any browser using your dashboard.
Google Wallet could be handy if your bank charges ATM fees and Google Wallet continues not to charge.
Link to how and where Google Wallet works google.com/wallet
Link to the Android Market for a GPS location app Paypass locator
To download .apk via DroidLive. Google Wallet is not in the Android Market with the Galaxy Nexus from Verizon. You must download and install the app yourself. It’s easy and you do not need to root the phone.
Thanks to @diehl for the initial tip that this works.
Twitter chatter:
@bobmock With VZW CDMA phones (LTE has SIM) user ID is part of phone, but ID is only assigned to user. NFC chip seems to work this way
@paulkuehnel I just would have assumed they’d put it on the back or edge and make it perm part of phone so batt change didnt matter
paul kuehnel @paulkuehnel 8m Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@bobmock Don’t think perm even relevant, not like a SIM. I am using a demo phone which I will disconnect from cloud and so will my GW
@bobmock Gives option of making huge battery (3rd party) larger back, still placing NFC chip at the very back of phone. Google Wallet Nexus
@bobmock I assume the distance NFC travels is so short it has to be as close to back cover as possible?
paul kuehnel @paulkuehnel 46m Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@bobmock @curbsidepirate If I didn’t have the ability to install 3party w Android my Nexus would not b running GW so A pple might do a VZW
@bobmock And I assume chip ID and phone/acct work as set… you must approve trans which means real-time server communication during sale
paul kuehnel @paulkuehnel 1h Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@bobmock I assume the distance NFC travels is so short it has to be as close to back cover as possible?
paul kuehnel @paulkuehnel 1h Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@bobmock just need to buy a Samsung or NFC compatible battery. Some weird generic might not have chip.
In reply to Bob Mock
@CurbsidePirate Guess it will be with the next version of the the i Phone? Needs NFC chip. On Galaxy Nexus it’s on the removable battery.
@paulkuehnel so if you get a replacement or aux battery the NFC won’t work? That seems odd to me. if you put batt in other device? ID go to?
@bobmock oh, yeah, remove the battery and the chip is gone. I guess it offers the ability to upgrade/change and add chips if change happens
@paulkuehnel I didn’t mean perm regarding user. I just meant a perm part of the phone so phone would always have regardless of batt
Pingback: Green Mesh | Wrap-up review – Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0