Pay with Google Wallet, where you can do it
(CBS) - Search giant Google announced Google Wallet today. With the slogan, "make your phone your wallet," the new mobile technology similar to Sqaure, enables consumers to tap, pay and save. Sounds so easy, right?
Here are the terms: in order to use the service (once it launches, that is), you have to have a Citi MasterCard, Google Prepaid Card or gift cards at participating stores.
Use it at Macy's, American Eagle, Walgreens, Foot Locker, Guess, Jamba Juice, RadioShack, The Container Store, Bloomingdale's, Duane Reade, Toys 'R' Us, and Subway (just to name a few) to redeem special offers and earn loyalty credit as you pay for stuff via your mobile device. These stores are considered "Google SingleTap" merchants.
You can also use the locator on their site to find other stores that will honor the Google Wallet. I did a quick search for my hometown's zip code, for example, and it turned up: CVS, Office Depot, Petco, Quickchek, even small shops (the list goes on). These are "tap and pay merchants," which means you can pay by tapping your mobile phone at any of these Paypass enabled stores (no special offers though).
Interested in using the service once it launches in your neck of the woods? Sign up to be notified when it's available. They're starting with New York and San Francisco to test it first.
Although many are reluctant to use it -- after all, there's still the question of security -- the search giant believes this is only the beginning. Remember life before credit cards? Just a decade ago, people were afraid to buy things online. After Google Wallet, what's next? Payment by telepathy?
