Google Wallet gets fatter

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 18 October 2011 13:59

Your IT - Mobility

 

Google has signed up additional partners for its Google Wallet phone-based NFC payment system, and rolled out support for loyalty cards, coupons and exclusive offers.

 

In a sign of things to come for Australian shoppers, Google has announced that American Eagle Outfitters, The Container Store, Foot Locker, Guess, Jamba Juice, Macy's, OfficeMax and Toys 'R' Us have enabled their loyalty programs or discount coupons for Google Wallet. So when customers pay for purchases by tapping their Google Wallet enabled Android phones on the terminal, they automatically get the benefit of the appropriate coupon that's been stored on the phone, or earn points (or whatever) in the store's loyalty program.

 

Foot Locker, Guess, OfficeMax and American Eagle Outfitters now offer loyalty cards for Google Wallet, while American Eagle Outfitters, The Container Store, Macy's and Jamba Juice are issuing Google Wallet electronic discount coupons, including some offers that are exclusive to Google Wallet and show up in a separate tab.

Other US retailers joining the Google Wallet roster include Chevron, D'Agostino, Faber News Now, Gristedes Supermarkets and Pinkberry. While early participants are chains, Google is making provision for small businesses to accept Google Wallet payments via merchant payment processor First Data. However, loyalty card support is only offered to selected businesses.

According to Spencer Spinnell, Google's director of emerging markets, Google Wallet now shows more detailed transaction records. The merchant's name and location, and the time and value of the transaction are now available in real-time.