It’s been two days after Apple made yet another historic press conference. Android/Google is ready to strike back and strike back immediately.
This is where Android Pay comes in. Android Pay debuts to the public today. This service is available?to all Android phone customers. Now, they can use Android Pay at one million retail stores across the US. To take part in Android Pay, your Android smartphone has to run 4.4 KitKat or newer. It needs an NFC chip. You can find the Android Pay app in the Google Pay store, and you need a credit/debit card to back your Android Pay account. It works with the most popular banks and credit card agencies. You can use your fingertip or passcode for security. Instead of storing credit card information, it uses ‘tokenization’. In an event your Android phone is lost or stolen, numbers on your phone can’t be exploited. Google Wallet is going nowhere. In fact, Wallet and Android Pay use the same technology. And like Apple Pay, most major retailers are accepting and embracing Android Pay. These retailers include Walgreens, Macy’s, Whole Foods, and Rite Aid. Eventually, Pay will have in-app payments as well.
Like I hinted before, you gotta applaud the timing of Android Pay’s debut. Sure they’ll probably say Apple had nothing to do with the chosen release date, but it’s just too much of a coincidence to me. Fingertip technology is a huge plus. First off, passwords are difficult to remember for many. Second off, hackers are getting smarter and smarter at breaking in smartphones. But what about smaller banks and small businesses? Do they have the capabilities to accept Android Pay? Do they have the will to? Who will win between Android Pay and Apple Pay? Or will there be any winners?
We at Computer Geeks would like to take time to honor and remember the victims, families, and survivors of the devastating 9/11 attacks on our nation. Let’s love and respect each other.