Google Wallet: 2012-2013 in Pictures
December 24, 2012 11:56 AM
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(Image: Bloomberg News)
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First to Market
Google launched its mobile wallet roughly a year ahead of competitors such as Microsoft, Apple and Isis. For better or worse, all eyes were on Google as it navigated the rough waters of mobile point-of-sale payments. (Image: ThinkStock)
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Security Woes
Google faced early criticism for security issues that allowed users to reset the Google Wallet's PIN or to access stored funds on a modified phone. It quickly fixed these issues, which were tied to the Google-branded virtual prepaid card. (Image: ThinkStock)
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Nexus 7
Carriers have resisted offering Google Wallet on phones, but the WiFi-only Nexus 7 tablet doesn't require a carrier's buy-in. Google added its mobile wallet to the tablet in July. (Image: Bloomberg News)
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Party of One
Google Wallet launched with Citi as its first and only partner. Citi is a longtime early adopter, having supported or tested technologies such as the Google Checkout online payment system, the Obopay mobile payment system and the Dynamics high-tech payment card. But without a major change, Google wasn't able to attract other issuers. (Image: Bloomberg News)
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The Floodgates Open
Google Wallet originally required a long integration with its bank partners. But an August change put this process in consumers' hands instead . At that point, banks simply had to provide card art and other basic details, leading many to finally lend their support to Google Wallet. (Image: ThinkStock)
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Prepaid Fades
Google initially used a virtual prepaid card to allow non-Citi issuers' cards to work with its mobile wallet. With the August change to the Wallet app, this Google-branded card was no longer necessary. Google removed the prepaid card in October. (Image: Bloomberg News)
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Rivals Catch Up
This year, Google faced new competitors. The mega-merchants announced the Merchant Customer Exchange venture, which would offer a competing wallet; and Isis launched its long-awaited pilot in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas. (Image: ThinkStock)
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Power of Plastic?
Google is reportedly planning to offer a plastic card as a companion to its mobile wallet. The card may attract more mobile-wallet users, but it may also wind up largely ignored by customers just like the plastic card PayPal offers with its own digital wallet. (Image: ThinkStock)
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Predictions
What is Google planning in 2013? One analyst predicts it will begin work on a Google Bank . Another predicts the addition of a plastic card to Google Wallet will make the mobile-pay system a stronger competitor to banks. (Image: ThinkStock)
