Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Mobile
  4. Legacy Archives

NFC mobile payment ‘Google Wallet’ confirmed for Thursday press event

Add as a preferred source on Google

Yesterday we wrote about a Google rumor that had to do with mobile payments being introduced on May 26. It has been confirmed with a memo that tomorrow the search engine giant will be unveiling its service which will be called Google Wallet.

According to a memo from The Container Store which was published by Thisismynext.com, this summer will be when Google launches their test for contactless payment through mobile device. The fine details aren’t certain, though it’s most likely that Google will be partnering with Sprint and be using the Nexus S. The rumors say that Sprint phones with NFC chips will allow customers to pay with their phones at POS. Consumers will be able to tap their phone on a specialized reader at checkout and be on their way. It is also rumored that Citigroup and MasterCard have collaborated with the Google project.

Recommended Videos

The company plans on announcing the retailers who will be participating in the test at this Thursday’s press event in New York. Macy’s and American Eagle’s in those cities may be among retailers introducing a near-field communication (NFC) reader. Though the memo doesn’t say, Google reportedly will be introducing the service in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. for their test run.

The memo also contains the date September 1, though it isn’t certain whether that date is when the Google Wallet program will begin or if that’s when The Container Store will be participating.

Jeff Hughes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I'm a SF Bay Area-based writer/ninja that loves anything geek, tech, comic, social media or gaming-related.
Lenovo’s Googlebook lineup could include two laptops, a 2-in-1 tablet, and an AI mouse
Images have emerged online giving us our first look at Lenovo’s upcoming Googlebooks
Googlebook

Google announced Googlebook at I/O in May, but we are still waiting to see what the finished hardware will actually look like. The first devices are expected this fall, and new images published by Android Headlines may have given us an early look at what Lenovo has planned.

Lenovo appears to be preparing at least three Googlebooks, including two traditional laptops and a detachable 2-in-1 tablet. There is also a new wireless AI mouse that seems to have been designed specifically for the platform.

Read more
Shopping for back-to-school? I’d recommend these GaN chargers for saving space and packing more power
From a $9 spare to a $56 desk hub, these chargers cut down on cable clutter so that you can focus on your studies, not how cluttered your desk looks.
Best GaN chargers in 2026 for back to school shopping.

Between a phone, a laptop, a tablet, and perhaps a pair of wireless earbuds that require charging every day or every few days, most students are packing multiple chargers for move-in day. Those big, heavy bricks take up valuable backpack space that could otherwise be free for carrying more items. 

However, GaN chargers fix that problem in two ways. First, they deliver the same amount of power from a much smaller body, thanks to gallium nitride transistors. Furthermore, if you're willing to spend a little more upfront, you can get a high-capacity, multi-device charger capable of powering your entire digital ecosystem from a single wall outlet, something that could be very useful for a dorm room.

Read more
Gemini Spark can now use Chrome logins and saved passwords to run errands on your behalf
Gemini Spark can use Chrome’s auto browse feature to navigate websites and complete online tasks
Gemini Spark Chrome auto browse feature

Google is integrating Gemini Spark with Chrome so it can carry web-based tasks further without users having to take over at every step. The search giant is also expanding access to AI Pro subscribers in more than 160 additional countries, although the new browser capabilities are initially limited to the United States.

How Chrome auto browse works

Read more