Is Google Wallet Ripping Off iOS 6 Passbook?

[Michael Essany]

In June, Apple unveiled Passbook, a forthcoming app to debut alongside iOS 6 this fall. Called “the simplest way to get all of your passes in one place,” Passbook lets iPhone users keep and quickly access electronic versions of their tickets, boarding passes and other merchant cards in one convenient place on their handset.

Apparently, this idea was so awesome that Google had to hurry up and clone it before iOS 6 is released. At least that's what critics of the Internet search giants are saying on the heels of news that Google is adding a new feature to its growing electronic Wallet payment platform.

This week, Google confirmed plans for a comparable solution to the Passbook app.

One big advantage now for Google Wallet is that it was primarily designed to enable payments with users' credit card information stored in the cloud. It enables in-store purchases using near-field communications (NFC) at participating businesses.

In case you're wondering, this isn't a rumor. In fact, the news comes straight from Robin Dua, Google Wallet Head of Product Management. And while Dua wouldn't reveal when the new feature is coming... you can bet it's already on the way.

“One of the types of things we’re trying to do is make it easy for airlines, transit providers and other types of issuers of credentials to get their credentials stored in the Wallet,” Dua says. “That’s the goal. We want you to be able to leave your leather wallet at home and carry your phone and transact with that as your primary transaction device.”

Source: Bizjournals

[HTheory]

Of course it is!

[unison999]

Google Checkout was available back in 2006, expanding that onto cellphone and into Google Wallet is logical next step.
Google Checkout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If anything Apple is the one stealing the idea.

[Silverado1987]

Google Checkout was available back in 2006, expanding that onto cellphone and into Google Wallet is logical next step.
Google Checkout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If anything Apple is the one stealing the idea.

*Gets popcorn*

[brianlg]

no.

[funstuff234]

Are you [kidding] me? The news on this site just keeps pissing me off more and more every day. Google wallet has been around for over a year now, and there goal has always been to eliminate the goal to carry a wallet. They already support some gift cards/rewards programs from stores, and they plan to keep on expanding. Plus it uses NFC, something Apple doesn't seem to want to embrace. If anything, Passbook is a copy of Google wallet, not the other way around.

[mellymelly]

Google Wallet has been out before iOS5. NFC technology has been in android phones way before iOS6 was even considered. This is ModMyI's way of creating a mobile OS war

[snap1500]

An e-wallet isn't something new or unique. Everyone thought of it and wants it made (including consumers). It's like making telephone calls without wires. It was just a matter of time before someone made it happen. If apple or google made it happen first, doesn't really mean anything...Something like a pinch to zoom or bounce back, now that's something.

[scottjl]

@unison999 i think if you bothered to read the article you'd understand this isn't talking about "wallet" services, or paying for merchandise, but talking about the "passbook" service, keeping airline tickets, movie tickets, etc. in the application. if you're going to troll, please do your homework first.

[KraXik]

Wallet is a better name than passbook.

Passbook sounds like some pre-teen girls purse.

[zplit]

Are you [kidding] me? The news on this site just keeps pissing me off more and more every day. Google wallet has been around for over a year now, and there goal has always been to eliminate the goal to carry a wallet. They already support some gift cards/rewards programs from stores, and they plan to keep on expanding. Plus it uses NFC, something Apple doesn't seem to want to embrace. If anything, Passbook is a copy of Google wallet, not the other way around.

Dude if u don't like the news just keep it to ur self!! I'm sure not everybody knows about this. U guys keep talking crap about that news this site is giving us u don't like it u make ur own news or go to another site. Nobody wants to see stupid post about why is this news here. Post ur commens about what is the news about or don't.

[dannyrocket]

Are you shitting me? The news on this site just keeps pissing me off more and more every day. Google wallet has been around for over a year now, and there goal has always been to eliminate the goal to carry a wallet. They already support some gift cards/rewards programs from stores, and they plan to keep on expanding. Plus it uses NFC, something Apple doesn't seem to want to embrace. If anything, Passbook is a copy of Google wallet, not the other way around.

I agree, this is getting pretty ridiculous if you ask me! Don't be a fan boy and assume Apple innovates everything!

Kind of getting sick of Apple and I'm sure many other people are also!

[rickuk]

Google Wallet is available now, while we are still waiting for Apple to release Passbook. Google has NFC while we are still waiting on a NFC iPhone, to me Apple are trying to play catchup.

All this praise for Apple and negative for everyone else on multiple sites is getting boring, anyone would think sites are sucking upto Apple in preparation for Apples big announcement in a few weeks

[r17019]

Passbook more than likely ripped off from Google Wallet in the first place

[redapex]

I seem to have missed the "Is IOS5 ripping off Android Notifications?" headline

[littlelisa63]

I like the name passbook coz most us girls don't carry wallets
Anyway it's always gonna be apple this Samsung google that or Samsung google this apple that
Everybody has there favourite iOS and phone it's the real world
I love my iPhones and are happy with my product

[Spazmonic]

Dude if u don't like the news just keep it to ur self!! I'm sure not everybody knows about this. U guys keep talking crap about that news this site is giving us u don't like it u make ur own news or go to another site. Nobody wants to see stupid post about why is this news here. Post ur commens about what is the news about or don't.

I see what you are driving at with your comment, but I think its the way they are reporting it is the problem. Any real journalist would know that Google Wallet has been out for some time, but modmyi likes to get you guys all hot and bothered so these comment train keeps rolling. Its not Apples fault. It is modmyi with the dumbest of reporting. that said, Google Wallet on my Galaxy Nexus is amazing. I use it all the time. Maybe Apple will introduce some other way to use its features on iOS and then more innovating can occur from it, but lets be honest here. LMFAO!

[daviedave]

I seem to have missed the "Is IOS5 ripping off Android Notifications?" headline

I could be wrong but I think Cydia developers were trying to get a better notification system (something similar to Android) once they realized the apple notification system was lacking, then iOS developers realized how cool this jailbroken notification center was.

I believe, I could be wrong...
Android Developers > Cydia Developers > iOS deveopers

[szr]

I like the name passbook coz most us girls don't carry wallets
Anyway it's always gonna be apple this Samsung google that or Samsung google this apple that
Everybody has there favourite iOS and phone it's the real world
I love my iPhones and are happy with my product

I am not sure if you are aware of this, but Samsung is but one handset maker for the Android OS, they are not the maker of the OS themselves. Instead, that would be Google. Thus, you are making an incorrect comparison, as it's Google adding features such as Wallet, not individual handset makers.

[unison999]

@unison999 i think if you bothered to read the article you'd understand this isn't talking about "wallet" services, or paying for merchandise, but talking about the "passbook" service, keeping airline tickets, movie tickets, etc. in the application. if you're going to troll, please do your homework first.

My AMC account already log in my movie tickets + how much I spent on snacks + my rewards.
My United Miles card already log in my airline tickets + how many miles I flew + my rewards.
All this already exist so how is Google stealing this already existing "passbook" idea?
If anything "Passbook" is stealing Google Wallet epayment idea, I hope Apple do release Passbook so Google can add another bullet into its lawsuit against Apple.