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Google's plans for Wallet include Passbook-like functionality, presence on 'every platform'

Google's plans for Wallet include Passbook-like functionality, presence on 'every platform'

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Google's future ambitions for Google Wallet extend far beyond what's currently possible with the mobile payment system.

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Google Wallet 1.5 Stock
Google Wallet 1.5 Stock

Google's future ambitions for Google Wallet extend far beyond what's currently possible with the mobile payment system. "The vision behind Wallet is, we want it to be an electronic wallet that holds all your payment cards, loyalty cards, gift cards — but also other types of different objects, things you have in your physical wallet today," says Robin Dua, the man tasked with leading the Google Wallet team. In a recent live Google Developers chat, Dua cited identification and transit/boarding passes as examples of documents that Google wants to electronify and make available not only via mobile devices, but when shopping from your desktop PC or laptop.

"We want Google Wallet to be on all devices and all platforms."

That would bring Google Wallet very much in line with Passbook, Apple's own ticket/loyalty organizer set for inclusion in iOS 6 this fall. Google may be able to claim superiority over Passbook in one critical area, though: assuming the upcoming iPhone forgoes NFC as has been reported, Apple likely won't be able to match Wallet's capacity for making payments on the go. For its part, Google is a firm believer in the technology, exuding confidence that NFC is on the path to becoming an industry standard, Dua points to Samsung's Galaxy S III as evidence of this.

"We're looking to expand our carrier distribution."

Dua also discussed Google's commitment to bringing the service to other platforms — a plan that has seen little movement since Wallet's launch. "We want Google Wallet to be on all devices and all platforms, and we want it to be the preferred way consumers pay for things." But what about carrier support? Without offering specifics, Dua says Google is in active discussions with "a number" of carriers to add alongside current partners Virgin and Sprint. Only time will tell whether that means owners of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will finally be given (legitimate) access to Google Wallet. The company expects to have news to share on the topic "in the next little while."

On the subject of retailer adoption, Dua seemed optimistic that upcoming plans for cloud-based Wallet services will entice large and small businesses alike. "We want it to be a platform where merchants could integrate their loyalty programs and offers campaigns easily into Wallet and not have to do extensive point-of-sale operations."

Google's ultimate goal continues to be evolving Wallet to a point that will let users ditch their wallets entirely, according to Dua. Unfortunately we're still nowhere close to that becoming a reality. Instead, consumers remain caught in the middle of a complicated mobile payments ecosystem. We'll just have to wait and see if the many players involved can find common ground.