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Google Introduces Wallet, A Way To Make Payments Using A Phone

Today, Google announced a new service called "Wallet," an app that Google says turns your phone into a credit card or in some cases, a place to keep all those loyalty program cards you now keep on your key chain.

Here's how Google explains it on their blog:

Because Google Wallet is a mobile app, it will do more than a regular wallet ever could. You'll be able to store your credit cards, offers, loyalty cards and gift cards, but without the bulk. When you tap to pay, your phone will also automatically redeem offers and earn loyalty points for you. Someday, even things like boarding passes, tickets, ID and keys could be stored in Google Wallet.

The way the app works right now, you would touch your cellphone to a small reader to make a payment.

Right now, though, Google Wallet will only work with Citi Mastercards and prepaid Google cards. And, VentureBeat reports, it only works with Nexus S phones.

Google said it is rolling out the new app in New York and San Francisco, first.

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Eyder Peralta
Eyder Peralta is NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya.