Google has launched its mobile payments service, Google Wallet, on Sprint’s network in the US. The new app lets you pay for products by swiping your smartphone against a card reader.
The service uses ‘near-field communication’ to allow anyone with a Sprint Nexus S handset to charge items to Citi Mastercard credit cards, according to a Google blog post. A Google pre-pay card is also available for international users.
“Our goal is to make it possible for you to add all of your payment cards to Google Wallet, so you can say goodbye to even the biggest traditional wallets,” the company writes.
The new service will be available at 300,000 shops worldwide that accept MasterCard PayPass, Bloomberg reports.
Google announced the new app in May, with Citi and Mastercard as initial launch partners. Future versions of the app will support Visa, Discover and American Express cards, the company said on Monday.
Google won’t take any revenue from the credit card transactions, and is planning to make money from advertising instead, Adweek reported in May. The AFP adds that the service will also offer discounts and promotions to Google Wallet users. Retailers signed up to the service include Macy’s, CVS and RadioShack.
