Upcoming Google Wallet update will allow users to manage their gift cards
by Brent Dirks
July 16, 2014
Google has recently announced a substantial upcoming update to its Google Wallet app.
Now, along with the ability to store loyalty cards and offers inside the app, users can manage their gift cards as well. Just snap a picture of the card, and it will be added into the app. Just show your phone at checkout to process a transaction.
For certain gift cards, including from retailers like Best Buy, Nike, Sephora, and others, customers can check their gift card balance in real time and receive a reminder to use the card when they are near a location.
Users will also be able to request money from friends with the Google Wallet app or Gmail. A blog post explains more about how the feature works:
For all those times when your friends forget to pay you back for dinner, you can simply request money using the Google Wallet app (for U.S. users, 18 years and older). They will receive a notification and can instantly pay you back. If they need a reminder, you can send them a friendly nudge from within the app. You can also send your friends a message right within Gmail, and request money just like you would attach a picture.Finally, since giving is always better than receiving, users can send money for free in Wallet via their debit card. Designed for the iPhone/iPod touch, Google Wallet can be downloaded now on the App Store for free. The update should be live sometime this week. For other app news and reviews today, see: Condense your searches into a single hub with Searchr, OmniFocus 2 for iPhone update brings TextExpander support and more, and Use your extensive vocabulary to save the world with new word game Letter Hero.
