Google pockets Pivots–And Turns Into Venmo

Google pockets, the corporate’s NFC cost possibility that competes with Apple Pay and more typical competitors like Paypal, is getting a facelift. As suggested again in March, the tech large is splitting its NFC cost functionality into a brand new app referred to as Android Pay—this means that Google pockets now appears to be like quite a bit like Venmo.

The new Google pockets, which launched this week, is a peer-to-peer payments app that has just one characteristic: the power to send cash to a Google account out of your debit card, bank account, or Google pockets stability. This functionality used to be previously supplied within the Google pockets app, but it is going to now not be to be had in the Android Pay app which debuted this week.

is this an indication that Google pockets is being phased out? likely no longer, provided that the corporate took the trouble to create a new app from scratch. (The previous Google wallet app will quickly be updated to change into Android Pay.) however it is not clear why any individual who currently makes use of Venmo—or even square cash—would make the bounce to Google wallet. and those that flocked to the app for its NFC capabilities will now flip to Android Pay.

Google’s move is paying homage to when Foursquare shifted its take a look at-in performance right into a separate app, Swarm, in the hopes of retooling its flagship app to center of attention on Yelp-fashion reviews and recommendations. but a large chunk of Foursquare’s person base didn’t make the leap to Swarm; the app also lost a few of its appeal through nixing badges and mayorships, which rewarded customers for checking into a favorite haunt repeatedly.

[via Ars Technica]

update: this text has been updated to mirror Android Pay’s release.