Google has filed a lawsuit to block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) order placing Google Payment Corp. under federal supervision, akin to banks. The CFPB cited risks in Google's error resolution and fraud prevention processes, based on consumer complaints about Google Pay Balance and peer-to-peer payments. Google argues the complaints are unsubstantiated and claims the supervision is government overreach, especially since the services in question have been discontinued in the U.S.
Google has updated Google Lens to enhance in-store shopping by providing product insights, price comparisons, and local inventory availability. This feature, powered by Google's Shopping Graph and Gemini models, allows users to take pictures of products to find reviews and check prices at different retailers. Initially available for beauty products, toys, and electronics at select stores, the feature is accessible via the Google and Chrome apps for U.S. users. Additionally, Google Maps will soon allow users to search for products in nearby stores, and Google Pay is expanding its buy now, pay later options.
Citi cards are now supported for Google's virtual card feature, which allows users to create a virtual number to mask their physical credit card details when making online transactions. This feature is available on Chrome and Android, providing an added layer of security by hiding personal payment details and protecting against fraud. Users with eligible cards can create a virtual card number through Chrome for Android settings or the new Google Wallet website, with instructions provided. Google is also working on adding support for Visa, Mastercard, and other major banks.
Google Wallet now has its own website where users can manage payment methods, passes, and view recent transactions. The website shares similarities with the Google Pay website, but some features, such as certain passes and payment methods, are only accessible through the app. Users can access the new website at wallet.google.com/wallet/home and make changes to their Wallet and Google Pay settings.
A viral email claiming that Gmail would be closing down on August 1 turned out to be a hoax, as Google confirmed that Gmail is here to stay. However, Google announced the closure of its Google Pay service for some U.S. users starting from June 4, 2024, while users in India and Singapore will still be able to use the app. The closure aims to simplify the app experience, with affected users being able to transfer balances to a bank account but no longer being able to send, request, or receive money through the U.S. version of the Google Pay app.
Google is discontinuing the standalone Google Pay app in the US on June 4th, 2024, in favor of Google Wallet to simplify their payment offerings and create a more unified experience for users. After the deadline, Google Wallet will take over as the primary platform for contactless payments, loyalty card storage, and managing transit passes and boarding passes. Some features like Peer-to-peer payments and viewing/managing the Google Pay balance within the app will no longer be available, but users can still access this information through the Google Pay website. The move signifies Google's effort to streamline its offerings and provide a more comprehensive user experience through Google Wallet, which operates in over 180 countries.
This week in tech news, OnePlus revealed the upcoming OnePlus Watch 2 with a glimpse of its design and features, Samsung announced the expansion of Galaxy AI features to older devices, a viral hoax claimed Gmail would be discontinued but was debunked by Google, Huawei launched its Pocket 2 foldable phone with five cameras, and Google announced the shutdown of its Google Pay app in favor of Google Wallet.
Google Pay on the web has received a Material 3 redesign, featuring a blue background and accent color for the side drawer, a new toggle style, and preferences for emails and privacy under Settings. The update allows users to view recent transactions, see saved payment methods, and access a unified "Transactions" view. The redesign also includes support for purchases made using Google Wallet for Wear OS. The rollout date for this redesign is unclear.
Google Pay's autofill feature in Chrome is being improved to display the name and a live preview of saved cards, making it easier for users to select the right card at checkout. This update is rolling out in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Additionally, users can now use addresses saved in Chrome and their Google Account in Google Pay and other first-party products. The ability to use saved addresses in autofill on Chrome will be available soon. Google Pay is also expanding its support for International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN) in desktop Chrome and adding support for saving cards in 50 new countries and territories, bringing the total to 180 places.
T-Mobile will no longer offer discounts for using Apple Pay and Google Pay for auto pay starting July 25. Customers will have to link their bank accounts directly to T-Mobile to receive the $5 discount per line. This move raises security concerns given T-Mobile's past data breaches. Verizon has also limited its auto pay discount to debit cards or its own Visa card.
The NFC Forum is looking to increase the range of NFC signals to a distance as far away as 30mm or 1.18 inches, which would make it easier for Apple Pay and Google Pay users to complete transactions. The NFC Forum is also looking to hike the technology's current wireless charging specification from 1 watt to 3 watts, which would bring wireless charging capabilities to "new and smaller form factors." The NFC Forum is collaborating with its 400 members and industry groups to make sure that initiatives become a possibility over the next two to five years.
Google Pay mistakenly handed out free cash to random users due to a bug in the mobile payment app. The amounts ranged from $12 to $1,000, and some users transferred the funds to their bank accounts. Google has since fixed the error and apologized for any inconvenience caused. Those who spent or transferred the funds get to keep the money, while those who left the balance in the app will lose it. The company has not disclosed how many users received credits or how much money was unintentionally paid out.
Google Pay accidentally deposited money ranging from $10 to $1,000 into user accounts through its rewards mechanism. The tech giant sent out a notification to those affected, allowing some to keep the funds. The message read, "If we were not able to reverse the credit, the money is yours to keep. No further action is necessary." It is unclear how many people were affected or how much money was deposited, but the mistake has received press and may encourage more people to sign up for Google Pay.
Google Pay accidentally deposited cash in users' accounts through its reward program, with some users receiving anywhere from $10 to $1,000. The bug was caused by a message meant for internal beta testing being sent to regular users. Many users received multiple payouts, and screenshots of the unexpected cash have been shared on social media.
Google Pay accidentally sent cash rewards meant for employees to random users due to an error in its rewards program. The company blamed the issue on an "error" and has since resolved it, reversing the credits where possible. Some users received cash deposits of up to $1,000 in their app accounts, leading to confusion and excitement on social media. The rewards were meant for "dogfooding," where developers use their own product to test it before release.
