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April 12, 2021
On the web
Google Shopping for Android Shuts Down in Favor of the Web – 9to5Google
9to5Google
“A new Google Shopping experience that featured a personalized homepage launched in 2019. On Android, Google rebranded the existing Express app to Shopping, but it’s now shutting down the mobile experience in favor of just the web.”
March 29, 2021
On the web
Google Launches Android Ready SE Alliance to Drive Adoption of Digital Credentials
NFCW
“Google has joined with secure element (SE) vendors to launch the Android Ready SE Alliance to accelerate the adoption of new use cases for Android devices including digital car keys and mobile IDs. The alliance is creating and rolling out a set of open source, validated and ready-to-use SE applets for use in conjunction with tamper-resistant hardware, including a general availability version of the Android StrongBox for SE keystore implementation.”
March 8, 2021
On the web
The New Google Pay Repeats All the Same Mistakes of Google Allo
Ars Technica
“The new Google Pay app came out of beta this week, and it marks the first step in a major upheaval in the Google Pay service. Existing Google Pay users are about to go through a transition reminiscent of the recent move from Google Music to YouTube Music: Google is killing one perfectly fine service and replacing it with a worse, less functional service. The fun, confusing wrinkle here is that the new and old services are both called “Google Pay.” Allow us to explain.”
February 19, 2021
On the web
Google Maps Will Now Let You Pay for Public Transportation and Parking Through Its App
The Verge
“Google Maps is adding a couple of new useful features: the ability to pay for parking or buy a train ticket right from the app. Google Maps is integrating two mobile parking payment services into its app, Passport and ParkMobile . Both offer the ability to find, pay for, and replenish parking meters or parking lot fees through a smartphone app. Now, those features will also be available in Google Maps.”
January 29, 2021
On the web
Google Will Soon Allow Gambling Apps on the Play Store in the US
Engadget
“Android users in regions other than the UK, Ireland, France and Brazil will soon be able to find and download real-money gambling apps from the Play Store. Google has updated its program policy allowing apps that “enable or facilitate online gambling” in 15 more countries, including the US, starting on March 1st.”
December 21, 2020
On the web
Google Pay Now Works With 67 More American Financial Institutions
Android Police - Android news, reviews, apps, games, phones, tablets
“Google Pay already works with about 3,000 partners, but that doesn’t hinder it from continuing to support more banks and credit unions. After adding 89 financial institutions to the list last month, the mobile payment service just added another 67 just in the US.”
December 8, 2020
On the web
Britain’s competition regulator sets out new regime for tech giants
Reuters
“Britain’s competition watchdog outlined a new regime for regulating tech giants such as Google and Facebook, saying it needed new powers to harness the full potential of digital markets and drive competition and innovation. It proposed a new, legally binding code of conduct, pro-competitive interventions in the market and enhanced merger rules, overseen by a Digital Markets Unit that was announced by the government last month.”
November 19, 2020
On the wires
Citi Selects Mastercard as Network Partner for the Citi Plex Account by Google Pay
“Today, Citi announced it has selected Mastercard as its network partner for the Citi Plex Account on Google Pay, a new digital checking and savings account built with financial wellness and mobile functionality at the core of the design to make managing money simpler, smarter and more rewarding.”
Green Dot to Collaborate with Google Pay to Offer Plex Accounts
Green Dot Corp. (NYSE: GDOT), a financial technology and registered bank holding company, today announced plans to work with Google Pay to offer Plex Accounts to customers: a safe, simple and helpful new option for transacting and managing their money.
November 18, 2020
Top Post
Google Pay’s massive relaunch makes it an all-encompassing money app
The Verge
“Today, Google Pay for both Android and iOS is relaunching with a giant array of new features. It turns the app from something that most people think of as a tap-to-pay card repository or peer-to-peer payment system into a much more ambitious service. The new app begins rolling out across the United States today.”
November 10, 2020
On the web
India opens antitrust case against Google over its payments app
TechCrunch
“India’s antitrust watchdog has opened an investigation into Google for allegedly abusing the dominant position of its app store to promote its payments service in the world’s second largest internet market. In its Monday announcement (PDF) about opening an antitrust case against Google, Indian watchdog Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it is directing an in-depth investigation into the claims of whether the Android maker prominently promotes Google Pay during the setup of an Android smartphone (and whether phone vendors have a choice to avoid this); and if Play Store’s billing system is designed “to the disadvantage of both i.e. apps facilitating payment through UPI, as well as users.””
November 9, 2020
On the web
Google made an app for creditors to lock you out of your financed phone if you don’t make payments [Updated]
XDA Developers
“Flagship smartphones have gotten substantially more expensive in the last few years, so many OEMs and carriers offer payment programs to give consumers the option of paying a fraction of the price each month over a period of 24 or more months. But what do you do if something unexpected happens and you can’t make a payment for a month or two?”
October 5, 2020
On the web
Google Defers Indian In-App Fees After Angry Startups Complain
Reuters
“Alphabet Inc’s Google has extended its deadline for Indian app developers to comply with a new billing system for commission fees by six months, it said on Monday, days after local startups voiced anger about the charges. Google will now enforce its global policy more strictly and charge a 30% commission fee for in-app purchases from Indian developers from March 31, 2022, the company said, saying it was ‘being mindful of local needs and concerns.'”
September 29, 2020
On the web
Google Demands 30% Cut From App Developers in Its Play Store
NYTimes
“Google said it would no longer allow any apps to circumvent its payment system within the Google Play store that provides the company a cut of in-app purchases. Google said in a blog post on Monday that it was providing “clarity” on billing policies because there was confusion among some developers about what types of transactions require use of its app store’s billing system.”
September 18, 2020
On the web
Google is Rolling Out a Simplified Google Pay App for Android
Android Central
“Google is rolling out a new update to the Google Pay app on Android that redesigns the mobile payments app. The new design strips the app of its lower bottom tab menu and moves all options to the hamburger menu (yes, Google’s shifting a focus on that after shifting away from hamburgers for the past few years.)”
September 3, 2020
On the wires
Passport Works with Google to Make Parking Payments Faster and Easier in Austin
“Passport, a transportation software company that enables cities to manage vehicle interactions with streets and sidewalks, is innovating with Google to enable people in Austin, Texas to pay for parking directly from Google Maps. This feature will start rolling out later today and will become widely available in the coming weeks.”
August 31, 2020
On the web
Google Pay starts testing NFC-based card payments in India
Android Police
“Google Pay in India ( formerly Tez ) quickly rose in popularity to become almost synonymous with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) — the very platform it’s based on. Last September, the company announced plans to expand beyond UPI payments to support tokenized cards, but nothing materialized even months after that initial teaser. It looks like Google Pay India is finally adding credit and debit cards as a supported payment option, though it isn’t live for everyone yet.”
August 25, 2020
On the wires
Bank of Ireland launches Google Pay for customers
“Bank of Ireland has launched the Bank’s first digital wallet, Google Pay, enabling customers to add personal debit, credit cards and business debit cards to the Google Pay digital wallet. Google Pay is a digital wallet platform and online payment system developed by Google to power in-app and tap-to-pay purchases on mobile devices. Bank of Ireland customers can now add their cards to Google Pay and start using it for payments in stores, online, and with Google products.”
August 17, 2020
On the web
Google is bringing TouchID payments to the desktop
MSPoweruser
“Google is working with payment processor Stripe to bring TouchID-authenticated payments to the web. The feature, which would prompt users to enroll their credit cards after they completed a normal purchase, is currently in Original Trail testing. After users are enrolled, they will be able to complete payments faster in the future by authenticating with TouchID rather than their 3-digit CVV. In the background, the service uses 3D Secure 2.0 authentication for credit card payments through Stripe and Google’s WebAuthn to Pay.”
August 3, 2020
On the web
Google signs up six more partners for its digital banking platform coming to Google Pay
TechCrunch
“Google is expanding its plans to offer digital banking services in the U.S. The company announced today it’s partnering with half a dozen more banks to offer digital checking and savings accounts to Google Pay users in the U.S., starting sometime next year. The new partners include Bank Mobile, BBVA USA, BMO Harris, Coastal Community Bank, First Independence Bank, and SEFCU. They join Google’s existing partners, Citi and SFCU, announced earlier, for a total of now eight banks lined up for the project.”
July 29, 2020
On the web
Google Pay Is Now Available for 25 New Banks in 14 Countries
Android Police
“Google Pay support is ever expanding among financial institutions, and that’s both the case in the US and the rest of the world . As such, we’ve compiled a list of the latest international banks that have added their credit and debit cards to Google’s contactless payment service, coming in at a total of 25 institutions across 14 (mostly European) countries.”
July 23, 2020
On the web
GPay Does Not Need RBI Authorisation As Not a Payment System Operator: Google to HC
Economic Times
“Google India Digital Services Pvt Ltd has told the Delhi High Court that its Google Pay app does not require RBI authorisation as it is not a payment system operator (PSO) but a third party application provider. Google, in an affidavit, has said the PSO authorised by the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) is the National Payment Corporation of India ( NPCI ) which is the owner and operator of the entire unified payment interface ( UPI ) network.”
On the wires
Buy on Google Is Now Open and Commission-free
“Over the past few months, we’ve made significant changes to help businesses reach more consumers and help people find the best products, prices and places to buy online. We made it free for retailers to list products on Google Shopping in the U.S., and we brought these free listings to Search as well. Today, we’re taking another important step to make it easier for retailers to sell on Google. Soon, sellers who participate in our Buy on Google checkout experience will no longer have to pay us a commission fee. And, we’re giving retailers more choice by opening our platform to third-party providers—starting with PayPal and Shopify.”
July 14, 2020
On the wires
Investing in India’s Digital Future
“Editor’s note: Today at Google for India, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a $10 billion Google for India Digitization Fund to help accelerate India’s digital economy. Below is an edited transcript of his remarks. Watch the full event here .”
June 25, 2020
On the web
Google to offer loans to merchants in India
TechCrunch
“Google said on Thursday it plans to offer credit to millions of merchants in India through its Google Pay app starting later this year as the American technology group looks to help small businesses in the country steer through the pandemic and also find a business model for its mobile payments service. The company said it is working with financial institutions to offer loans to merchants from within Google Pay for Business app. The Google Pay’s business app, which the Android giant launched late last year, has already amassed 3 million merchants, it said. Google’s announcement today comes as part of its effort to share its broader initiatives for small and micro-businesses in India.”
June 17, 2020
On the wires
Voice Grocery Shopping: the New E-commerce Grocery Experience Launched by Carrefour and Google in France
“Carrefour and Google are launching in France a new voice-based e-commerce grocery shopping experience within the framework of their strategic partnership signed in June 2018. As the first retailer in the world to offer its customers the new integrated voice shopping service on the Google Assistant, Carrefour continues to build on its multichannel offering. Based on a combination of advanced technologies, this innovative service simplifies and personalizes the grocery shopping experience while protecting the personal data of users.”
May 28, 2020
On the web
Exclusive: Google Faces Antitrust Case in India Over Payments App
Reuters
“India’s antitrust body is looking into allegations that Alphabet Inc’s Google is abusing its market position to unfairly promote its mobile payments app in the country, five sources familiar with the case told Reuters. The complaint was filed in February and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has kept the identity of the complainant confidential, the first source with direct knowledge of the case said. The complaint alleges the U.S. tech giant more prominently showcases its Google Pay app inside its Android app store in India, giving it an unfair advantage over apps of competitors which hurts consumers, the source added.”
May 26, 2020
On the web
Google Confirms New Voice-confirmation Feature for Purchases in Assistant
Android Police
“A new setting to allow Voice Match to confirm purchases made through the Google Assistant has been spotted in the Assistant’s Payments and Security settings pane. We’ve confirmed with Google that the new feature is part of an early but limited pilot that allows you to authorize purchases in a handful of categories with just your voice via the Assistant. Piles of Google’s support documents have been recently updated to reference the feature.”
April 21, 2020
On the web
Google Makes Listing Products on Its Shopping Service Free
bloomberg
“Google will make product listings on its Shopping service free, part of a broader push to expand in e-commerce and mount a bigger challenge to Amazon.com Inc. as the Covid-19 pandemic drives more consumers online.The Alphabet Inc. unit will let merchants post their wares on Google Shopping for free regardless of whether they pay for Google ads. Before, these listings were all sponsored, meaning merchants paid Google every time someone clicked through to their website from a Google product listing.”
April 17, 2020
On the web
Leaked pics reveal Google smart debit card to rival Apple’s
Tech Crunch
“The Google card and associated checking account will allow users to buy things with a card, mobile phone or online. It connects to a Google app with new features that let users easily monitor purchases, check their balance or lock their account. The card will be co-branded with different bank partners, including CITI and Stanford Federal Credit Union. A source provided TechCrunch with the images seen here, as well as proof that they came from Google. Another source confirmed that Google has recently worked on a payments card that its team hopes will become the foundation of its Google Pay app — and help it rival Apple Pay and the Apple Card”
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