The Future Is Here: Google Wallet Will Blow Your Mind (VIDEOS)
By: Hillel Fuld
I know what you’re thinking, “what new geeky technology that will have zero affect on my non-geeky life is he going to write about now? Is he going to tell me the iPhone 5 has a bigger screen or a faster processor? Maybe some more megapixels? Is he going to tell me what the next version of Android is going to be called? Or perhaps, he is going to tell me about some new ridiculous app that is going to sell an even more ridiculous number of downloads?” Nope, nope, and nope.
Yes, I am geeky and I love all the things mentioned above, but then there are some things that even as a geek that understands how they work, I see and am blown away. That is the case with Google Wallet. I have known about this for years. I have used NFC and I have heard of using your phone to pay for stuff. But then Google launched the service and I read the reviews, watched the videos, and had my mind blown. As will you.
A Little Background
It has been a while since Google stopped being a search company. The company has its hand in pretty much every industry, well almost. Google offers alternatives to many products we have used for years. These include email, calendar, GPS, coupon sites (as of yesterday), heck, even cars. Google is everywhere! But when Google announced its plans to essentially kill the wallet, I have to admit, I thought to myself “Those are pretty ambitious plans, Google. Even for you”. But based on the initial reviews of Google wallet, I was wrong and Google will pull it off, maybe not now, but it won’t be long.
So what is Google Wallet? In short, it is a service that enables you to pay using your mobile phone instead of your credit card. Nope, not kidding. How does it work? As of now, Google Wallet works with NFC, Near Field Communication, which exists on a limited number of handsets such as the Nexus S. Of course on the receiving end, the cash register or payment device needs to be able to recognize NFC, which contrary to what you may be thinking, is very common in many locations across the U.S.
Now, to read in depth reviews of Google Wallet, you can see TechCruch or ThisIsMyNext. I want to show you the videos of this technology in action and trust me, if you want to know how the future will look, watch these videos. I almost fell off my chair. These videos literally look like they are straight out of some science fiction movie.
