[LINK] Google Wallet: Will it 'fly'? Is it a good idea?

[Richard Chirgwin]

Well, we have plenty of time to make up our minds, since this isn't 
launching in Australia. Skipping to your third question ...

On 30/05/11 8:40 AM, steve jenkin wrote:
> Google announced "Google Wallet" and "Google Offers" around 26th May.
>
> I've three questions around it:
>
>   * will it do better than Microsoft's attempt? Can they make it fly?
>
>   * Is it a good idea or a slippery slope to disaster?
>
>   * What are the privacy, fraud&  social implications?
I wouldn't touch it with a pole. Google has form for a cavalier attitude 
to privacy. It thinks privacy means whatever Google wants it to mean.

The Google template is (a) invade privacy; (b) deny the invasion; (c) 
recant denial and plead accident; (d) issue insincere grovelling 
apology; (e) loop forever.

It's also designed for monopolistic lock-in: use with *this* credit card 
on *this* operating system with phones locked to *this* carrier.

This is the epitome of the anti-user service.

RC
>
> The Zetawire patent it's based on:
>
> "Secured Electronic Transaction System"
> <http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090288012>
>
>
> The Google website:
> <http://www.google.com/wallet/vision.html>
>
>
>
> A report of the launch:
>
> "Google Unveils Wallet And Offers: An Open Platform For Mobile Payments"
> MG Siegler, May 26, 2011
> <http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/26/google-wallet-offers/>
>
>
>
> A more critical view:
>
> "Heads up: What to look for in Google’s NFC mobile payments announcement
> By Sarah Clark | May 26th, 2011"
>
> <http://www.nearfieldcommunicationsworld.com/2011/05/26/37692/heads-up-what-to-look-for-in-googles-nfc-mobile-payments-announcement/>
>