Let's clarify some things here, before the comment threads take off too much:

- This is a prepaid card. It does not proxy other cards, unlike previous rumored versions of a Wallet card.

- It only draws from Wallet balance. Funds can be added to wallet balance via various means (bank account [free], receiving a GMail P2P payment [free], credit cards [2.9% fee]), but this does not happen automatically.

As such, it does not appear to be trying to achieve the same "card replacement" that e.g. Coin is. No, it is simply providing another way to get at Wallet balance that doesn't involve transfer to a bank account or NFC payment. Could be useful for people who make use of GMail P2P payments.

No thanks, but I'm sure Google will sign me up for one anyway.

So you have not yet heard that HN's comment system is switching to Google+?

I know that you are kidding because HN is against changes according to what I previously read

How did you post that comment without a Google+ account?

I posted it from my Google+ account. Muahahahaha.

Very disappointed that the Wallet Card has changed from its original goal of linking all your cards into one... that was the biggest appeal for me. Now that it's just another debit card, I doubt I will use it as my primary method of payment.

how does it work then, you have to transfer money into google wallet? i was under the impression it WAS a card unifier but yeah if it's not blech why bother when you already have credit/debit cards set up elsewhere (except i guess their physical card may unify rewards cards for you?)

It pulls from your Google Wallet balance, which can be funded when friends send you money, or you can load money on to it using a bank account or credit/debit card (2.9% fee applies)

o my lord. discover card gives you 1% BACK!

> discover card gives you 1% BACK!

Yeah, the fees credit cards charge merchants (in part, to fund reward programs) is why Google has to charge you money to transfer funds into Wallet from other credit cards (otherwise, they'd be losing money when your money goes from a CC into Wallet and out to pay for something.)

Note that there is no fee when the source is not a credit card.

Because Discover makes far more than that on people who owe them credit and don't pay it off immediately, so it's in their interest to get more people to owe them credit in hopes that they'll keep a running balance.

Credit cards charge merchants for their loyalty programs. They do make money from carried balances, but that's not how reward programs are funded.

Regardless, the point is that credit cards make money off of each transaction, even if the consumer doesn't see a per-transaction fee.

I'm really looking forward to when I can fund it with bitcoin.

google doesn't need to play greedy mining games, they get paid in straight up USD

Straight cash, homey.

Yet I still can't use Google Wallet on my NFC-equipped phone because AT&T are idiots.

Fortunately, 4.4 includes the ability to emulate the secure element, so if your device is fortunate enough to receive the update you might be able to without AT&T being able to intervene.

Don't feel too bad, I heard Verizon is just as bad. I am a customer of a Sprint MVNO and have a new moto-X sitting at home waiting to be unwrapped tonight, and I've already been informed Sprint also prevents NFC wallet.

As far as I can tell, the only Google Wallet hardware that actually works for NFC is tablets, like my nexus 7. Everything else disabled by all carriers. I can't find anywhere to actually use it where I'd be willing to haul the tablet.

AT&T, Verizon and T-mobile funded the competitor-product Isis and can (and do) technically stop Google Wallet from working on their phones because they control the "secure element".

I don't think this is a big feature, or anything more than a convienience for already active google wallet users that want to be able to use a physical card at retailers that don't support NFC transactions. It's mentioned no where on the google wallet site [1] and doesn't seem to have any tech other than a mag stripe. Also the card is issued by Bancorp, the same bank that backs Simple. [2]

[1] http://www.google.com/wallet/ [2] https://www.simple.com/faq/

> It's mentioned no where on the google wallet site

That's only true if you ignore the main (Overview) page [1], the Shop in Stores page [2], and the Stay Safe [3] page.

[1] http://www.google.com/wallet/ or http://www.google.com/wallet/index.html

[2] http://www.google.com/wallet/shop-in-stores/

[3] http://www.google.com/wallet/stay-safe/

Oops i spoke too soon. It changed since I posted.

This is great; I really do love Wallet and wish more places supported NFC payments. It's great to have this for the ones that only have magstripes, as I can now effectively carry one card and my phone wherever I go.

How is this different from using NFC and tying your Wallet with your VISA card?

I see no tangible benefits here to the end user.

For the vast majority of stores that don't support NFC.

So carry your VISA card along with your phone then. Again, I don't see any benefit to me.

Sounds interesting. When I got an NFC-enabled phone, I was excited to use Google Wallet, until I found out that Verizon blocks it. At least with a physical card, I don't have to deal with Verizon!

It's not really the google wallet card, of course. I really wanted the old Google Wallet card that was promised awhile back and then dropped.

So many wallet solutions have come out in the last few days.

Give me Wallaby: https://walla.by/the-wallaby-card?ref=ecpeby

Or Coin: https://onlycoin.com/?referral=ETAu9R6E

Google Fail.

This is similar to PayPal debit card right? PayPal also support Mastercard, which means you can use this prepaid card at any mastercard POS.

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/paypal-prepaid-mastercard

And there goes Coin !!! Whoop... Out !!!!