Google has announced Google Wallet, a mobile payment service which is currently being tested by Google, Sprint, Citibank, Mastercard, First Data and Sprint. It uses NFC technology which lets you make payments by simply tapping your device at the counter terminal.

Google Wallet is not just about payments as it also integrates merchant loyalty, rewards and even coupon programs that helps improve your shopping experience. What this means, you can get instant offers and redeem points instantly in a single tap. For those who are skeptical about credit card security, Google Wallet offers several layers of security which includes a PIN request before a transaction is made.

For those without credit card, Google is releasing Google Prepaid Cards which is a virtual credit that’s being offered by Mastercard and Money Network. In addition, it also can store shopping gift cards for selected retail outlets, making shopping more paperless. Overall, this eliminates coins, dollar notes and even the bunch of cards that we normally carry. The bad news however is that it will be available only in the US and only applicable for the Nexus S 4G for.

Maxis had a demo of the Nexus S’s NFC capabilities during the launch but so far we have yet to see any real application of it in Malaysia. However looking way back, NFC isn’t really new as Maxis does have a NFC solution called FastTap. Only available with a Nokia 6212, Maxis FastTap service offers both Visa Wave & Touch n Go mobile payments and it works in most places with Visa Wave and TnG terminals. We are wondering when Maxis is planning to extend this to the rest of the new devices with NFC. We simply love this concept and won’t mind using this for our day to day shopping.

For more information on Google Wallet, head over here.

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	Mobile Apps, Mobile Devices, Nexus S
	google, Google Wallet, Malaysia NFC, Mastercard, Maxis NFC, Mobile NFC, Near Fields Communications, NFC

Nokia’s Executive VP for markets, Anssi Vanjoki has announced that all Nokia smartphones will be NFC ready 2011 onwards. This is a huge commitment by the manufacturer but they didn’t mention which upcoming model will start carrying the feature.

According to the report, Nokia says that the NFC ready devices will support various business models for NFC, including SWP (Single Wire Protocol), Secured Elements (special microSD) and embeded secured element.

Maxis is the first and only operator in Malaysia to introduce NFC Service. Branded Maxis FastTap, the service integrates with Touch n Go and Visa Wave. The only model they have for this is the Nokia 6212. So far in Malaysia it didn’t really kicked off in a big way which we feel is partly blamed on the lack of choices. How many people would skip their smartphone purchase for a simple candy bar phone for the sake of NFC?

If Nokia really does embed NFC capabilities on all future smartphones, we might be able to see the rise of NFC users in Malaysia and the rest of the world. You can’t deny that Nokia does have a fair share of users particularly from the lower-middle income as well as youth groups. Imagine college kids being able to pay for LRT or even fast foods from your phone. The application for NFC is endless but definitely need more choice of devices.

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	Mobile Devices, Nokia, Technologies
	Malaysia NFC, Maxis FastTap, Maxis NFC, Near Field Communications, NFC, NFC Mobile, nokia

You may have heard or seen NFC before. NFC, which is Near Field Communication is now available in Malaysia thanks to Maxis, called FastTap.

So what is NFC? Basically its like a Mobile ID/Wallet that works similarly like Touch n Go. Imagine, the ability to make retail purchase and pay using your mobile phone by tapping on a reader device. Same goes to LRT, where you can just tap your mobile phone on the entry/exit gate reader boards.

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	Maxis, Mobile Devices, Players on the Field
	Malaysia Mobile Payment, Malaysia NFC, Maxis FastTap, Maxis NFC, Maybankard Mobile, Mobile Payment, Touch n Go Mobile, Visa Wave Mobile