Skip to main content

Google plans mobile-payment tests in NYC, San Francisco

ISIS NFC sales transactions drawing (Nov 2010)Google will soon begin to test a plan that allows customers in New York City and San Francisco to make payments using their only mobile phones, reports Bloomberg.

According to “two people familiar with the project,” Google will finance the instillation of “thousands” of enabled cash-register systems from VeriFone Systems Inc. at select retail locations. These registers would accept payments from cell phones equipped with near-field-communication (NFC) technology. The sources say Google plans to launch the plan within four months.

Recommended Videos

NFC technology allows users to simply tap their cell phone on the NFC register to pay for products or services. It serves as an alternative to cash or credit cards. According to Bloomberg, Google’s NFC service “may combine a consumer’s financial account information, gift-card balances, store loyalty cards and coupon subscriptions on a single NFC chip on a phone.”

Google’s plans coincide with increased use of NFC technology in general. Deutsche Telekom announced at this year’s Mobile World Congress that it will begin to roll out NFC-based “mobile wallet” technology throughout Europe this year, and will expand the technology’s implementation to the United States in 2012, through its subsidiary wireless company T-Mobile USA.

If Google brings its NFC plan to fruition, it could face stiff competition from competing systems backed by a variety of companies, including those of eBay, PayPal and ISIS, which is supported by AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Of course, for any NFC plan to work, customers must have NFC-enabled phones at their disposal. The Nexus S and Galaxy II smartphones from Samsung are among the few NFC-capable devices currently available in the US. Blackberry-maker Research In Motion has said it will begin implementing the technology into its devices as soon as possible. Apple says it will not include NFC technology in the upcoming iPhone 5.

Andrew Couts
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
It’s time for Apple, Samsung and Google to solve the eSIM problem
Nano SIM card in SIM card tray from iPhone 14 Pro Max.

When Apple launched the new iPhone 16e on Wednesday, the Apple Store in every region displayed one thing under connectivity: eSIM. There was no mention of a physical SIM, and I had a waking nightmare that Apple had quietly pulled the plug, and every iPhone 16e globally would be sold as an eSIM-only model.

A quick search — and a look at the photos — confirmed that this hadn’t happened, but my reaction kickstarted a thought about eSIMs, their promise (and what we were promised), and the current state of eSIMs globally. I’ve been traveling for the past month, and eSIMs are an absolute mess. The potential was immense, but it goes against carriers’ interests to make it any easier, but there is a solution.

Read more
I tested the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro cameras, this one wins
Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 Pro

Smartphones have been getting bigger for years, but as they’ve done so, a new realm of smaller phones has launched to cater to those who want something more pocket-friendly. By small, I don’t mean Mini — although I’d love Mini phones to make a comeback — but rather, more friendly when using them with one hand.

Both Samsung and Apple have helped pioneer this trend, by ensuring there’s a smartphone that’s the perfect size for any needs. Yet, they’ve taken different approaches to doing so, as part of differing strategies on what the ideal smartphone lineup should look like.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Apple iPhone 16.

There is little doubt that Apple and Samsung are the biggest rivals in the flagship smartphone market. Each February and September, both companies unveil new smartphones to outdo each other. This year, Samsung's Galaxy S25 is set to launch following the release of September's iPhone 16.

While the Galaxy S25 features few design changes compared to last year's Galaxy S24, Samsung has incorporated many new technologies and software improvements, making it an AI-focused smartphone ready for the spotlight. With the second generation of Galaxy AI and the Gemini system at its core, the Galaxy S25 aims to usher in a new era of AI-driven smartphones.

Read more