Sprint announced today a partnership with Google to launch Google Wallet, an application using near field communication technology (NFC) to make your phone your wallet. When Google Wallet is available this summer, eligible Sprint customers will be able to tap, pay and save money and time while they shop. Sprint will be the first carrier and Nexus S 4G will be the first phone to deliver this innovative service.
“We are pleased to join Google in offering this cutting-edge capability that lets you leave the house with just your phone, and tap and pay to shop, dine out and go to the movies,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president of Product for Sprint. “We are proud that Nexus S 4G is the first smartphone with Google Wallet and pleased that our customers can be the first to experience the service.”
Google Wallet is expected to work initially with the fast growing MasterCardPayPass network accepted at 124,000 merchants nationally. Existing Citi MasterCard holders can add their cards to Google Wallet over the air. Google also will support a pre-paid card that can be funded to make payments. In addition to quick payments, users also will be able to redeem offers and even scan loyalty cards – all with a single tap – with participating retailers (with no additional fees added).
Google Wallet is not available now, but more details about how to get it and how to use it can be found at www.google.com/wallet.
Sprint has a strong history of partnering with Google to support an open philosophy that integrates the products and services that consumers value and enjoy into the mobile experience. Sprint is a charter member of the Open Handset Alliance and launched the first 4G Android smartphone. In April, Sprint launched the Nexus S 4G and launched Google Voice integrated with Sprint for Sprint CDMA phones.
In keeping with its open approach, Sprint is actively working with others in the mobile payment ecosystem. Sprint believes in enabling the existing framework and solutions – in this case, banking institutions or existing financial instruments – to bring familiar services to consumers without creating a new solution for their mobile lives. Sprint sees this as enabling choices for customers that best meet their needs, not the needs of the carrier. Sprint will continue to bring practical, easy-to-use mobile payment solutions to customers on Sprint devices.
