Google dropped the news last week that Nearby was about to get a whole lot more interesting. With the use of Bluetooth and a special blend of tricks collectively known as Location Services, Google will enable Android devices to learn about all manner of things in close proximity, whether they be Eddystone beacons, Chromecasts, or even Android Wear watches waiting to be set up. In the announcement, it was mentioned that an update to Google Play services would be rolling out shortly that adds support for all of these new features, and this is the one. While most of the features have already been disclosed, there's one in the teardown that wasn't mentioned.
Read MoreGoogle Play Services v9.2 Adds Support For All Of The New Nearby Capabilities, And Likely Includes Peer-To-Peer File Transfer [APK Download + Teardown]
Google Confirms The Physical Google Wallet Card Is Going Away On June 30th
All good things must come to an end, and that goes double for things that aren't very good. Google is sending out emails to everyone who has a Google Wallet card explaining that support for the card is ending on June 30th. We first reported on this a few days ago when strings in a new version of the Wallet app made it clear Google was preparing to discontinue the card.
Read MoreGoogle Is Preparing To Drop Support For The Physical Wallet Card On June 30th
The first signs of the Google Wallet Card were discovered during an APK Teardown, so it only seems fitting that its death should also be foretold the same way. That's right, the real life Wallet Card is not long for this world. Text found in the Google Wallet v14 update reveals plans to terminate the versatile little card on June 30th.
Google's story with a physical card has always been pretty tumultuous. In mid-2013, AllThingsD posted a report about a clunky demo of the project in front of an already unsatisfied Larry Page. This led to the removal of Wallet's then current Vice President, Osama Bedier, and all but confirmed the project was probably doomed.
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[Update: APK Download] Google Wallet Will Now Let You Send Money To Anyone With A Phone Number Via SMS (US Only)
In an upcoming update to the Google Wallet app for Android, Google will let you send money to anyone in your contacts list with a valid phone number. The new feature was announced on Google's Commerce Blog, and for now is US-only, which we have since confirmed with Google.
The new feature works by sending a secure link over SMS to the contact you select, which leads to a web page where your contact can enter their debit card details to claim the money.
Read MoreGoogle Wallet v11.0 Now Supports Multiple Bank Accounts And Adds An Instant Lock Button [APK Download]
The Google Wallet app just received a version bump, bringing it up to v11.0-R234-v13. (Seriously, what is up with this version number?) Like some of the other updates this week, there aren't any big changes, but the changes that are there will tighten up some of the oversights and issues that were left in the wake of Google splitting Wallet into two separate apps. The new version has a handful of minor visual tweaks and bug fixes, but more importantly it adds support for multiple bank accounts and a new button to quickly lock the app for security.
What's New
Multiple Bank Accounts
The Wallet app has always supported multiple credit and debit cards, but it strangely limited users to just one single bank account.
Read MoreAndroid Pay Is Starting To Roll Out To Replace Your Google Wallet App [APK Download]
Google made announcement earlier today that Android Pay had arrived. But arrived where? Someplace, but now you can get it on your device right this moment. It will replace your old Wallet app and you need to have the latest version of Play Services, but this is the future of paying for things with your phone.
Read More[Update: Wells Fargo Support Live] Android Pay App Will Launch Today, But Does Require The Explicit Support Of Your Credit Card Or Bank
Google And ChowNow Partner Up To Use Wallet For Mobile Payments At Thousands Of Independent Restaurants
Mobile payments are on the rise. Google has been working with companies for years, and with Apple Pay turning more consumers on to the idea, new opportunities to swipe your phone at a register or pay in advance are popping up left and right.
Now Google has partnered with ChowNow to bring Wallet to thousands of independent restaurants across the US. As of today, restaurants have updated their mobile apps to include Wallet as an additional option at checkout. Future businesses that work with ChowNow will offer integration from the beginning.
The move will hopefully serve as a win-win for everyone involved.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
InBrief
[Update: Changelog Added] Google Wallet 9.0 Adds Search To The Transactions Screen, Drops Orders Screen Entirely [APK Download]
Samsung Pay Promises To Allow Tap-And-Pay At 90% Of Credit Card Terminals, Attacks Google Wallet And Apple Pay Head On
Samsung presentations always include a litany of buzzwords and redundant features, some of which are meaningless or borrowed directly from Google and Android, while others point to bigger aspirations. Today's announcement for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge introduced a new feature called Samsung Pay, a direct competitor to Google Wallet and Apple Pay. Even though this is just one more product that attempts to have consumers replace their credit cards with a phone, it carries a distinct advantage over NFC-based alternatives: it also works with traditional credit card readers.
Samsung Pay offers two methods for communicating with payment terminals: Near Field Communication (NFC) and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST).
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