Gpay - not a big surprise

Now Google targets mobile payments

14:30, Sep 3rd 2007 by Tim Green

Blimey, Google has filed a patent for a mobile payment system being dubbed Gpay.

The patent, filed last year but has only just published, describes how a text message could trigger a “computer-implemented method of effectuating an electronic on-line payment”. That sounds like reverse-billed SMS to us, but no doubt Google will do things differently.

The Gpay patent filing describes a system where a user sends a text message to Google that gives details of a payment to a specified payee. GPay would debit the user’s bank account and credit the payee.

Of course, Google already has its own online payments system called Checkout. It’s a little like PayPal, and was soft launched for mobile earlier this summer.