PayPal unveils Beacon: a USB stick that powers hands-free checkout (video)

PayPal unveils Beacon: a USB stick that powers hands-free checkout (video)

PayPal's offered its Here service since last year to simplify buying items in brick-and-mortar shops, and today they've just unveiled their latest crack at in-person shopping: a USB stick dubbed Beacon. Business owners running a compatible Point of Sale system (Booker, Erply, Leaf, Leapset, Micros, NCR, PayPal Here, Revel, ShopKeep, TouchBistro and Vend as of now) just plug the dongle into a power source and they'll be ready to offer hands-free payments. By using Bluetooth LE, the hardware detects when a customer wielding the PayPal app walks in, but won't go so far as tracking their location within the establishment. A person's photo will appear on the PoS setup when they mosey inside, and they'll only have to give a verbal confirmation for payments to go through.

Naturally, waltzing into a store that can charge you so easily raises some concerns, but the outfit's application will allow for levels of trust. Users will have control over what retail locations can register their presence, if they want to be prompted with on-screen alerts to confirm payments and which businesses can charge them automatically. The setup will be put through its paces in Q4, and is expected to roll it out early next year, but 100 lucky developers will get the dongle and accompanying API early. PayPal hopes Beacon and its API will lead to new checkout experiences, such as having your usual meal ordered as soon as you walk in. If you're a dev or shop owner yearning to give the contraption a shot, click the link below for more.

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Via: PayPal Forward

Source: PayPal

gdgt’s best deals for August 12: Epson Expression Inkjet, Panasonic 50-inch 120Hz Smart 1080p LED HDTV

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gdgt’s best deals for July 24: 47-inch LG LED 3D HDTV, HP Officejet Pro All-in-one

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Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Although Google Checkout was rolled into Google Wallet at the end of 2011, it's still been an option for folks who peddle their wares online to collect payments. Come November 20th, however, the service will officially shut down. While Page and Co. recommend US-based merchants switch to the revamped Wallet, they're partnering with Braintree, Shopify and Freshbooks to offer discounted migration options as well. As for developers using Checkout for transactions through the Chrome Web Store, Google Play and Offers Marketplace, they'll be automatically transitioned to the Google Wallet Merchant Center in the coming weeks.

[Image credit: StockMonkeys.com]

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Source: Google Commerce, Android Developers Blog

Google announces new Checkout button, one-click purchases on the go

Google announces new Checkout button, oneclick purchases onthego

Google has just made shopping on your Android phone much easier. The folks in Mountain View have outed a new Checkout button that enables one-click purchases. Instead of having to shuffle through a litany of steps to pick up that next birthday gift, you'll only need to tap once, then confirm the payment info via Google Wallet and shipping details in order to complete a shopping session on your mobile device. Of course, this will also allow users to avoid the headache of having to input payment info in each site where they want to make a purchase.

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