Search colossus Google has a few plans up its vast sleeves, one of them
appears to make paying with your mobile phone as easy as possible. The filing could pave the way for a possible GPhone launch.
The company has filed a patent for a service called "GPay" that would
allow you to pay for goods and service on your mobile phone. According
to the filing, a text from a mobile could spark a
"computer-implemented method of effectuating an electronic online
payment".
Basically, a text is sent to Google, detailing payment to someone else,
GPay would then take money out of your account and put it in the
account of the specified payee. Not only would you pay for goods
online, but you could also pay at the shops or vending machines.
The filing has unleashed rumours that the search giant is about to
launch a new phone, dubbed "GPhone". If the rumours prove true, then
Google could soon be launching a range of phones in the US that could
sell for as little as $50.
Google was quick to dismiss talk of a new phone or mobile service.
A Google spokesbot said that "like many companies, we file patent applications on a variety of
ideas that our employees may come up with. Some of those ideas later
mature into real products or services; some don't. Prospective product announcements should not be
inferred from our patent applications."
It's all very well but will it look as good as the iPhone?