“Android Pay” likely to be introduced as a full-blown wireless payments platform at Google I/O

Before you freak out, no — Google Wallet is not dying. In fact, it might actually get better. Google’s Sundar Pichai spoke at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this morning about the company’s plans for mobile payments in the future. This comes at a time where Apple and now Samsung have thrown their hats into the arena with exciting platforms of their own.

Google Wallet in the now slightly pales in comparison to those guys, but Android Pay will hopefully look to change that. The first thing to know is that Android Pay won’t actually replace Google Wallet.

Instead it’s a full-blown payment platform and API that Google and third-party developers alike can tap into. Google Wallet will likely still exist as its own app and service, but Google will use Android Pay as the backbone. Don’t like Google Wallet? Another developer could come along and do things differently, but still enjoy the same secure backbone that Google uses with little issue and you’d be free to give that service a go if you so wish.

For its part, Google says they aren’t necessarily threatened by Samsung’s move to enter the wireless payment space. In fact, Google hopes the two can work together in some way and get the idea of wireless payments into the hands, pockets and minds of more people. Google has a leg up on Samsung thanks to their acquisition of Softcard (formerly ISIS) which is already backed by most of the United Stats’ major carriers.

Unfortunately that’s all we know at this point. We’re not sure what other plans Google has to affect the wireless payment scenes in a powerful way, but we should be treated to more details once Google I/O arrives.

Rooting the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge will break Samsung Pay mobile payments

Rooting our Android devices has long been a way to unshackle our phones and tablets from the confines of OEM restrictions. Things like completely removing bloatware (not just disabling), or running custom ROMs are all made possible through the power of root. While most of the time rooting allows you add cool features and tweaks, it’s not always be the case. The Sony Xperia Z3, for instance, took a big hit to its camera quality thanks to missing DRM keys breaking Sony’s proprietary image processing (although a workaround was eventually found).

Those of you thinking about rooting the Samsung Galaxy S6 or Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge take heed, doing so will break arguably one of the best features of the device: Samsung Pay. To be fair, Samsung Pay isn’t even available yet, but it wont be too much longer until it officially launches (sometime this summer). Once it does, you’ll be able to make mobile payments using your smartphone — not just at NFC-based terminals — but anywhere you can swipe a regular credit card using Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST).

Of course, that’s just something you could do, providing you don’t root. Because Samsung Pay is so heavily tied into the Galaxy S6’s security, rooting your Galaxy S6 compromises its security and consequently, breaks things like KNOX and mobile payments. Just a little something to consider before you run off to root the S6, only to find you are forced to use your physical credit card like an animal.

[SamMobile]

Facebook Messenger is adding mobile payments, lets you send money to friends/family

The ability to send cash quickly and easily has seen a boom in recent months. Aside from mobile wallet services like Square Cash or Google Wallet, we’re now seeing it creep into messaging services like Snapchat and today, Facebook.

Using Facebook on the desktop or Messenger for Android and iOS, users in the US will now be able to send money to friends or loved ones inside as easily as sending a text message. Facebook decided to go with debit cards — for both sending and receiving (after creating a PIN) — so that users can avoid those transaction fees. Free is good. As usual, money being transferred is nearly instant, taking a few business days depending on your bank of choice.

We know, Facebook already knows just about everything about you and providing them with your credit card info may not sound like the best idea to some folks. In their announcement post, Facebook reminds users they have been processing payments for gamers and advertisers since ’07. In other words — they know what they’re doing.

Send Money to Friends in Messenger on Vimeo