Apple Pay and Google wallet blocked, Amazon takes on Chromecast and Fitbit launches new wirstbands. Video.

Retailers take sides in the battle of mobile payment technology, with some shutting down NFC sensors to block Apple Pay and Google Wallet in favor of an app that tracks customer data. Also, Amazon takes on Chromecast, and Fitbit launches new wristbands.

Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-i9500 3G 16GB Factory Unlocked International Version (White)

Google launches Google Wallet on Sprint and working with Visa, American Express and Discover.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

From the Google Blog:
In May we announced Google Wallet—an app that makes your phone your wallet—with Citi, MasterCard, Sprint and First Data. With Google Wallet, you can tap, pay and save using your phone and near field communication (NFC).

We’ve been testing it extensively, and today we’re releasing the first version of the app to Sprint. That means we’re beginning to roll out Google Wallet to all Sprint Nexus S 4G phones through an over-the-air update—just look for the “Wallet” app. Here’s a demo of Google Wallet in action:



Google Wallet enables you to pay with your Citi MasterCard credit card and the Google Prepaid Card, which can be funded with any of your existing plastic credit cards. As a thanks to early adopters, we’re adding a $10 free bonus to the Google Prepaid Card if you set it up in Google Wallet before the end of the year.

When we announced Google Wallet, we pledged a commitment to an open commerce ecosystem. We appreciate Citi and MasterCard for being our launch partners. And today, Visa, Discover and American Express have made available their NFC specifications that could enable their cards to be added to future versions of Google Wallet.

Our goal is to make it possible for you to add all of your payment cards to Google Wallet, so you can say goodbye to even the biggest traditional wallets. In fact, we’ve got a video of our first customer, someone who is ready to replace his famously over-stuffed wallet. We hope Google Wallet gives him “serenity now.”



This is still just the beginning, and while we’re excited about this first step, we look forward to bringing Google Wallet to more phones in the future. You can learn more about Google Wallet at google.com/wallet.

Google's cash-free shopping spree. Video.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús..

Google wants U.S. shoppers to leave wallets at home, and use the wave of a smartphone for future purchases, teaming up with MasterCard to launch a mobile cash service.



Related post: Google wallet: How it works ?

Google Wallet: How it works ?

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Lets take a walk through on Google Wallet about Payments, Offers & Loyalty and Security.

               Payments

Give your smartphone some credit

Tap your phone to pay with the virtual payment cards stored in your Google Wallet.

When Google Wallet launches, it will support these cards:

• Citi® MasterCard®
• the Google Prepaid Card
• gift cards at participating merchants

We aim to eventually support all the payment cards you keep in your leather wallet today.       

             Paying with Google Wallet is quick and easy

1. Look for these symbols at checkout.
2. Tap your phone on the reader.
   Your phone sends payment, and, at some merchants, offers and loyalty information.

Citi MasterCard

It’s easy to set up a Citi MasterCard with Google Wallet. If you already have a card, open Google Wallet and enter your account information. After Citi verifies it, your credit card credentials are stored to a secure microchip on your phone. You can then tap your phone to pay. If you have a Citi MasterCard and want to confirm that it works with Google Wallet, check here.

If you do not currently have a Citi MasterCard, you can apply for one here.

Google Prepaid Card

The Google Prepaid Card is a virtual card that you can fund with any of your existing credit cards -- no Citi MasterCard required. After you activate the Google Prepaid Card in Google Wallet, you’ll get $10 in your account. Your first $10 spent with Google Wallet is on us.

You can then top up the card with additional funds from any of your plastic cards. You’ll pay no fees to top up your Google Prepaid Card at least until the end of 2011. Since the Google Prepaid Card is purely virtual, you won’t get an actual card in the mail.

The Google Prepaid Card is powered by MasterCard® and Money Network®.

Gift cards

Google Wallet can store gift cards for participating merchants. When you tap to pay at a merchant, Google Wallet transmits your gift card information to the terminal.      

               Offers & Loyalty

Google Offers are deals on products and services at local or online businesses. Whenever you buy or save a Google Offer, it automatically syncs to your Google Wallet so your offers are always with you.

Google Wallet can also store loyalty cards for participating merchants.

Redeeming Google Offers

At most stores, simply show your offer to the cashier at check out. The cashier will either scan the offer’s barcode or manually type it in.

At participating Google SingleTap™ merchants, you can pay and redeem your offer in a single tap via NFC.

Finding Google Offers

Google Offers are available in different Google products, such as Google Search, Maps, Latitude, and Shopper. You can also learn more about the Google Offer of the Day at www.google.com/offers.

Loyalty cards

Google Wallet can store your loyalty cards for participating SingleTap merchants. When you tap to pay at a SingleTap merchant, Google Wallet transmits your loyalty account information to the terminal so that you earn rewards for your purchase.

We're working with merchants to help them support offer redemption and loyalty via near field communication.             

Security

Google Wallet is designed and engineered to enable safe, secure payments. In fact, Google Wallet’s security features go beyond what’s possible with traditional wallets and cards.

A locked wallet is a safer wallet

Google Wallet requires you to set up a Google Wallet PIN that must be entered before making a purchase. This PIN prevents unauthorized access and payments via Google Wallet. Android phones also feature a separate lock screen.

Secure technology

Google Wallet and MasterCard PayPass™ provide many layers of security.

Google Wallet stores your encrypted payment card credentials on a computer chip on your phone called the Secure Element. Think of the Secure Element as a separate computer, capable of running programs and storing data. The Secure Element is separate from your Android phone's memory. The chip is designed to only allow trusted programs on the Secure Element itself to access the payment credentials stored therein.

The secure encryption technology of MasterCard PayPass protects your payment card credentials as they are transferred from the phone to the contactless reader.

What to do if your phone is lost or stolen

Even though the Google Wallet PIN and Secure Element protect your payment card information, you should still call your issuing banks to cancel your cards.

Where it works ? Enter your zip code on  Google Wallet