Google announced a new NFC program for mobile payments that uses the embedded chip on the new model of google phone with hopes that NFC will become the standard in the next generation of smart phones. This means google has already identified partners for payment processing, being the major credit card providers. The bigger implication will be their power to crush groupon. Google Deals can be tied to payment through Google Wallet and vice versa. Deals can be open ended or tied to a specific merchant.
A crucial element of this, even more than NFC enabled phones is NFC enabled point of sale (POS) systems. Having Checkouts that accept this form of payment is a requirement. Google should look to partner with mobile tech early adopters that have a customer base that is in the target demographic for mobile payment users. My shortlist: The Gap, Best Buy, Old Navy, Macy's, Express, Home Depot, Journeys.
If google wants to own payments and deals for consumers, square wants to own the spending, transaction, and card swiping for mobile devices. A new iPad cash register app makes the free square adapter and app a pair of small business essentials. Google boasted in the announcement press conference that they want to parter with everyone (referring to phone makers). But a partnership with Square could make the most sense. The next generation of square card readers could be NFC enabled and Square could go from a collector to a two way receiver for any iPhone or android (and other brands are an app away). And Squares forecasted 2.9% of $1 Billion in forecasted transactions in 2011 should help them get started and a play toNFC just makes sense.
NFC is perfect for parents, put a little money down and see where they use it. Security will be a concern. If Google Wallet or Square (or whatever startup moves mobile payments into the mainstream) want to be the leader, they will have to be the first to convince thepublic that the technology is safe. If it's easy to use and helps you track and manage your money, mobile payments will be the standard. But merchants and phone makers need to be convinced first or the whole thing is a non starter.
I am looking out for the first "tap phone here to pay" sign at the checkout counter.
Communication 3.0 is about new media, social networking, mobile, and marketing. Communicate Faster.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Are cloud devices going to free us from the desktop?
Google just announced a subscription-based "laptop" that runs nothing but a browser and taps users into the cloud. Available June 15th, this new device, as the video below describes, is the next step in googles evolution/domination of our web activity. They have a healthy share of mobile users with Android, their email is the tops, and their docs and apps have become the default applications for my work and play. Instead of focusing on the Tablet marketing and going head to head with the iPad, they went a different direction and went laptop.
In keeping with their open policy (as they have with the android devices), they are introducing two devices from Samsung and Acer. The screen size of the devices are 12.1" and 11.6", respectively, and they look like something between a netbook and a full size laptop. All black and an attempt to be sleek, the first shots of the devices don't look half bad.
Subscribers get 100 MB of free data usage from the Verizon wireless network and they can save the mobile data by using wifi networks when possible. Additional data plans are in increments of 1 GB for $20 and a limitless day pass for $10. Unfortunately no unlimited plans, which makes the packages expensive for any heavy user.
The Chromebook is targeting two markets, the business user and the education user. Business users get the device for $28/month for businesses and $20/month for students/educators. In about 2 years you will spend as much as you would have just bought a laptop, but you can say you were an early-adopter on the cloud. And I know I don't keep a computer much longer than 2 years. Plus their refresh program is pretty appealing. Like car leases for those than just like new. (I like new!)
Promoting on their microsite, www.google.com/chromebook , they devices will first be sold through Amazon.com.
In keeping with their open policy (as they have with the android devices), they are introducing two devices from Samsung and Acer. The screen size of the devices are 12.1" and 11.6", respectively, and they look like something between a netbook and a full size laptop. All black and an attempt to be sleek, the first shots of the devices don't look half bad.
Subscribers get 100 MB of free data usage from the Verizon wireless network and they can save the mobile data by using wifi networks when possible. Additional data plans are in increments of 1 GB for $20 and a limitless day pass for $10. Unfortunately no unlimited plans, which makes the packages expensive for any heavy user.
The Chromebook is targeting two markets, the business user and the education user. Business users get the device for $28/month for businesses and $20/month for students/educators. In about 2 years you will spend as much as you would have just bought a laptop, but you can say you were an early-adopter on the cloud. And I know I don't keep a computer much longer than 2 years. Plus their refresh program is pretty appealing. Like car leases for those than just like new. (I like new!)
Promoting on their microsite, www.google.com/chromebook , they devices will first be sold through Amazon.com.
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