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Google Launches Mobile Payment System

Capping off a week full of mobile announcements for Google, the search giant just unveiled a new payment system tied directly to users’ existing accounts.

With the new Google Payment API, so-called, third party developers can charge consumers through their Google accounts, while it will assume responsibility for security and processing.

With the new service, people can pay in-app or online with any verified credit or debit card saved to their Google Account, via products like Google Play, Chrome and YouTube.

Pali Bhat, VP of payment products at Google, says the new offering is going to make life easier for a lot of people.

“For users, the option to pay with Google means breezing through checkout without needing to remember and type multiple lines of payment details,” Bhat promises in a blog post.

In a matter of months, the service will also allow U.S. consumers to send or receive payments via Google Assistant.

Then -- so long as people have Google Home or an Android device -- they can simply ask the smart assistant to, say, send a friend $20 for tacos.

Google is also adding new ways for merchants to engage and reward customers before and after their in-store visits.

A Card Linked Offers API, for one, is designed to drive customer loyalty by providing a new channel to deliver targeted offers.

Panera Bread has already signed on as one of the first merchants to roll out the new capability, nationwide.

Per the pact, MyPanera members who save their loyalty card to Android Pay will receive special offers and other perks, which will be surfaced by Android Pay when they visit their local Panera.

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