Google today launched a new mobile payment app in India that allows users to connect their bank accounts directly to the service and employs ultrasound technology in lieu of an NFC chip to transfer money between devices.
Called Tez (Hindi for "fast"), Google's new payment platform links customers' bank accounts to Android and iOS via the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a state-backed payments system. Google has partnered with State Bank of India, the country's biggest lender, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, with 55 banks in total said to be supporting the service across India.
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Tez uses a technology called audio QR that allows mobile users to transfer cash between devices using an inaudible ultrasonic frequency to identify the payer and payee. The system works with any mobile device with a mic and speaker and the Tez app installed, and therefore doesn't require an NFC chip.
India is home to 300 million smartphone users, but most handsets in the country don't feature NFC, so Google's audio QR solution is being marketed as a secure mainstream alternative. Apart from typical mobile transactions to pay for everyday items, Google says small businesses can also use the app to accept payments into their bank accounts, with payments from mobile merchants supported, too.
According to Bloomberg, digital transactions have surged after the Indian Government banned high-value cash notes in 2016. Tez is available on both Android and iOS, and Google plans to release the app in other emerging countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. Apple has yet to launch Apple Pay in any of the aforementioned countries and is still negotiating with the Indian government about bringing its own mobile payment system to the country. Apple Pay Cash, Apple's peer-to-peer mobile payment feature, is set to launch in the U.S. with the official release iOS 11 this month.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Chillr/BHIM/Tez/PayTM/PhonePe/Airtel money/Jio Money plus each bank also has their own mobile wallet. LMAO seriously!
So it sends out audio and this is received by mic... yeah, seems very secure. "Hey, my bank account is XYZ, password ABC".
Open wifi has the same problem, but it's a solved issue. There are ways to make this cryptographically secure. You do a public key exchange then encrypt everything afterwards.[doublepost=1505754844][/doublepost]The ultrasound thing sounds cool, but IDK why they use it instead of NFC.
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How many? Google Wallet>Android Pay & now Tez
I also avoid Google because they never focus on anything, but to be fair, payment systems are a case where you really just have to try repeatedly until something sticks.That way, there would be one for China, one for North Korea, one in Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and eventually Mars. This will fuel the government's arrogance at abysmal levels. Google just aided a WeChat environment in India.
Google knows no self-esteem. Just hate Google.
Open wifi has the same problem, but it's a solved issue. There are ways to make this cryptographically secure. You do a public key exchange then encrypt everything afterwards.
There is a huge difference between sniffing packets on the same network and openly audibly broadcasting banking information.[doublepost=1505754844][/doublepost]The ultrasound thing sounds cool, but IDK why they use it instead of NFC.
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I also avoid Google because they never focus on anything, but to be fair, payment systems are a case where you really just have to try repeatedly until something sticks.
How many wallet/pay apps in India?
Hail! dictator ModiChillr/BHIM/Tez/PayTM/PhonePe/Airtel money/Jio Money plus each bank also has their own mobile wallet. LMAO seriously!
There is a huge difference between sniffing packets on the same network and openly audibly broadcasting banking information.
What's the difference? On wifi, you openly broadcast banking information, just with light instead of sound. Any legitimate banking site will use SSL encryption.