I pretty much love all things related to Google because they are often free and quite useful to running my business and personal tasks, such is the case with Android Pay, a way to make purchases at retail locations using your Android phone, keeping your wallet at home or in the car. What is Android Pay? Fair question.
To use Android Pay requires that you have an Android phone equipped with something called NFC, Near Field Communications. The NFC is a type of secure, wireless system used on both your phone and the retailer credit card equipment. Next time that you visit your retailer look at their credit card terminal for this wave symbol:
Yes, that symbol looks a lot like a WiFi signal, but don’t be confused because it really stands for NFC.
Next, check if your Android phone supports NFC. On my phone I swipe down from the top, then click the icon in the upper right-hand corner to find the NFC logo, clicking the NFC logo to turn it on or off:
Install the free Android Pay app at the Play store, add some of your credit cards by snapping a photo of the front side, then start using Android Pay. There are over one million stores in the US that now offer Android Pay, so expect the numbers to keep increasing because it’s a winner. In my area I use Android Pay at:
- McDonald’s
- Jamba Juice
- New Seasons
- Clark Lumber
- Universal Cycles
To use Android Pay I double-check that NFC is turned on, click the Android Pay app, then place my phone on top of the credit card terminal. An email receipt is automatically sent to your phone by text message, so when you get home there are no more paper receipts and it’s quite easy to see where you’ve been shopping and what the amounts are.
I’m still waiting for Wells Fargo Bank to add NFC to their ATM machines, and the state of Oregon to allow the use of cell phone ID, then I can just about live without my wallet and only use my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone with Android Pay.
