Credit Cards and Kids: Should you let Your High Schooler Have a Credit Card?

Your 16-year-old wants a credit card for essential shopping trips and school excursions. That way, she explains ever so reasonably, she doesn't have to carry wads of cash or drag you along to the mall, and she's covered in case of an emergency.

Meanwhile, you envision wild spending sprees and whopping credit card bills. Should parents ever add teens as secondary card holders to their accounts? The answer depends on a variety of factors, and there is no correct answer for everyone. Here's what you should consider:

Financial experience before credit card

Children who have handled a savings account, earned money from household chores or a part-time job, and saved money for special purchases are better prepared for handling financial responsibility than those who haven't had any experience with making and saving money. Make sure your child is grounded in some basic money know-how before handing over a credit card. Have you taught your child about interest rates and how credit cards work?

Your kid's maturity

Kids mature at widely varying rates. Consider your child's personality and maturity level. Can you trust your kid to keep track of a credit card and follow your limits for credit card use? Not sure if they'll be able to handle it? This may not be the area you want to give them a chance to prove you wrong.

The good and the bad

Under the CARD Act, those under 21 years old will find it hard to get a credit card without providing income information, which could make it challenging for most students to start building good credit. So, on the up side, your child could get a nice start on their credit profile if the responsible credit use is reported to any of the three major credit bureaus. However, keep in mind, any negative items that happen on the account will affect all account holders. If you forget a payment on the account, it can harm your teen's credit as well as your own.

Credit card use: The ground rules

Decide how your child should use the credit card. Will there be a spending limit? Will your teen be allowed to use the card only in certain situations or for certain purchases? How will your teen pay for purchases? Will you keep the credit card and give it to your child as needed, or will your teen hang onto it?

Credit card policies

Credit card companies' policies for secondary card holders vary. Some have minimum age requirements. Some provide a different number for a secondary card; some provide the same number. Not all companies list purchases by the secondary card holder separately on the billing statement. Most companies report the primary account holder's payment history on the secondary card holder's credit report, although some companies don't do this for card holders under 18. Check your card issuer's policies for details.

Deciding whether to give your teenager access to your credit card account is a big decision. Give the matter plenty of thought and do what's best for you and your kid.

Merchant Data Systems Bring New Credit Card Processing Opportunities to Aquariums

Merchant Data Systems has recently announced a team up with Karma Snack, a leader in internet marketing. The team up aims to provide businesses, both large and small, with an even more comprehensive suite of services. Together the two companies plan to expand their service packs to various industries including the aquarium space.

Each year 175 million people visit aquariums in the United States. There are, literally, hundreds of spaces for people to visit and those with young children often mark Dolphinariums or similar facilities down on their list of "things to do" on vacations and during school breaks. These spaces are fun, educational and can interest even the most disinterested of toddlers. While these spaces are wonderful attractions, people can't attend unless they know they exist. That is where MDS and Karma come into play. Together, the companies plans to launch a comprehensive service pack aimed directly at these entertainment and education facilities; the companies will offer a myriad of services ranging from mobile credit card processing, to search engine optimization, to invoice assistance and creative advertising campaigns.

The goal of MDS and Karma Snack is to raise awareness about the facilities that are currently available and to give those facilities all of the tools, services and backend support they need to flourish and survive in today's changing economy. These educational spaces have a special place in the hearts of staff members at both companies. Each staff member can remember, fondly, visiting one of those venues as children. Whether it was during a family vacation, or a class trip, everyone remembers entering a sea-inspired museum at some point during their childhood. The fun and wonderment was palpable and the learning was abundant. Times, however, have changed, and these facilities, although a staple in the museum world, must grow and expand to meet the ever changing needs of clients. That is where these two companies plan to come together and help.

Recent statistics show that more people search for activities online than through any other means. In decades past, many people focused on word-of-mouth recommendations; or simply asked the clerk at the hotel they were staying at for recommendations of places to visit. Those options still exist, but people seem to trust the internet more. The world has moved towards an "instant gratification' mentality. As information is readily available online, people spend hours researching, planning and purchasing tickets using the net, but before they can do any of that, they need to know a venue exists. Through MDS' wonderful merchant services options and Karma's knowledge of the marketing space, the two companies plan to ensure those businesses who sign up are featured prominently when people spend time on the web. Not only that, the companies plan to ensure customers have all the tools they need to make their trip and day fun, convenient and efficient.

All of these wonderful expansion opportunities for the sector begin with the ability to accept credit cards. MDS is an industry expert in the field. The company began with a desire to bring credit card terminals, credit card machines and merchant cash advances to companies that need them desperately to expand. Since than the company has helped build an empire that many businesses relay on.

Merchant Data Systems, a leader in merchant processing services, began nearly two decades ago. From its inception, the company aimed to provide business across all sectors and platforms with a means of achieving all of their goals. Starting small as a credit card processing provider the company grew exponentially. Today the company offers businesses of all sizes a comprehensive service pack that offers everything from invoicing solutions, to POS integration, to payroll solutions. One of MDS' most exciting service packs allows merchants to build an e-commerce platform with mobile payment options and shopping carts. MDS has long seen the value in the internet and today they are helping business expand as brick and mortar and online merchants. The team up with Karma Snack aims to expand on that exponentially.

Karma Snack, an industry leader in the online marketing space, has successfully completed 1,200 profitable campaigns over a myriad of different business sectors. The company has been responsible for viral videos, SEO optimization and creative advertising avenues for fortune 500 companies and small, mom-and-pop shops alike. They know the internet space like the back of their hands and work hard to ensure the right campaign is created for the right client at all times. Together with MDS, they believe strongly that they can bring success to the sea-aquariums and Dolphinariums. After all, the company does call South Florida home; just minutes from some of the most beloved and well-recognized sea-aquarium spaces in the country!

Don't store your credit card on shopping sites

Don't store your credit card on shopping sites

My single biggest temptation with online purchasing is to buy books for my Kindle. I absolutely love the ability to have a lot of books in my hand at any given time, and the idea of adding to my library without acquiring something that takes up physical space is very nice, too. (I do still like to own paper copies of books that mean a lot to me, but most of my reading now is either from library books or from digital editions of books.)

Part of the challenge I have with this is that ordering books for the Kindle can be incredibly easy. Amazon wants to store your credit card information and, once they have it, all you have to do is click once to buy a book. It's delivered to your device(s) without a second thought, except that you've just charged some amount ($1 to $15) to your credit card.

For a book junkie like me, that's a dangerous proposition. I either need a lot of willpower – which I really don't have – or I need smarter tactics.

Thankfully, there's a pretty straightforward tactic that really works well. I just don't keep a credit card number stored on the site.

It seems clunky at first. If I do make the decision to buy a Kindle book (or anything else from Amazon), I have to dig out my credit card, enter the info, and make sure the box is checked to ensure that my card info is not saved. It is clunky compared to a one-click system.

However, the clunkiness has a huge advantage for me.

In the time that it takes to do those things, I'm actually thinking about whether or not I really want to complete this purchase.

Do I need this thing that I'm entering my credit card number for? Should I even be buying this?

Can I get it at a better price elsewhere? Maybe I should shop around a bit first.

Can this item wait until later? I do have a lot of books to read already.

That pause is often enough to convince me to not buy the item at all. The fewer unnecessary items I buy, the more money I have in my pocket at the end of the month.

This philosophy works with any online retailer. Simply don't save your credit card information there and you'll find it much easier to resist the temptation to order.

Lord Hanningfield spent £286000 on Essex council credit card

Disgraced peer Lord Hanningfield spent more than £286,000 on a council credit card over a five-year period.

Essex county council has published a full list of Hanningfield's credit card spending between 2005 and 2010 as part of its review of spending at the authority. It details thousands of transactions, including spending on flights, train journeys, meals and hotel stays while the 71-year-old was leader of the authority.

The peer, from West Hanningfield, Essex, served nine weeks of a nine-month sentence last year after being convicted of falsely claiming £14,000 in parliamentary expenses. He was ordered to pay back more than £30,000.

This week City of London police announced it would be taking no further action after investigating his spending at the council, saying there was insufficient evidence. Between 2006 and 2011 Hanningfield was paid £236,644 in expenses and allowances.

The report found that although the peer had reimbursed costs identified as being personal spending, there had been issues with a lack of receipts and expenditure above recommended guidelines.

The leader of Essex council, Peter Martin, said since Hanningfield left the council, action had been taken to tighten the authority's "governance framework" by placing tighter controls on spending.

Martin said: "These improvements have strengthened our corporate governance and the Audit Commission's ethical governance review conducted in July 2011 concluded that we have made 'significant progress' at strengthening our governance arrangements.

"I am pleased that the police investigation is now closed and we are now able to move on. Lord Hanningfield was obviously a large part of the authority for a number of years but it is three years since he stepped down as leader and a lot has changed since then. It is now time to look forward rather than back."

OfficeMax Launches New Credit Card for Businesses

OfficeMax® Incorporated (NYSE:OMX), a leader in office and facility supplies, technology and services, today announced a new store-brand credit card for small business customers. The new OfficeMax Business Credit Card, available through a new relationship between OfficeMax and Citi® Retail Services, provides businesses with a new, flexible credit option to help fund and manage their office expenses and free up critical capital to help keep their businesses running smoothly. The move also adds to OfficeMax's line of credit products to help customers purchase office supplies and services.

Business customers can apply for the OfficeMax Business Credit Card at OfficeMax.com and in stores nationwide and, upon approval, start making purchases instantly. Card members are automatically enrolled in the OfficeMax MaxPerks® Rewards program, allowing them to earn $25 in MaxPerks Rewards for every $500 spent on qualified purchases1. The card also offers benefits including no annual fee, a dedicated line of credit for office supplies and services, detailed tracking services on purchases and online account management. Additionally, business credit card holders will have opportunities to take advantage of periodic special extended financing and other promotions.

"The OfficeMax Business Credit Card extends lines of credit to small businesses that continue to face a challenging economic environment," said Michael Lewis, executive vice president and president of retail at OfficeMax. "We aim to remove barriers to purchases for our business customers. The new OfficeMax Business Credit Card is helping businesses obtain the necessities for their day-to-day operations and further, for their long-run success."

"We are thrilled to work alongside OfficeMax to provide business customers with a new, convenient payment option for office supplies and business services," said Craig Vallorano, executive vice president, Business Development and Strategy for Citi Retail Services, which provides retail credit card products and services to national and regional retailers across the U.S. "Citi Retail Services' family of retailers continues to grow, and OfficeMax is a valued addition."

PayPal set to launch facial-recognition for ins-store purchasing via smartphones

THANKS to your smartphone, this will be the new face of shopping ... literally.

Forget about fumbling for coins or even a credit card when you are buying a coffee, selecting clothes or dining out all you need is a smartphone and a mug shot.

Simply show up, "check in" at a store on your handset via the web, place an order, and have a sales assistant confirm your photo ID when it flashes up on their terminal.

The technology tipped to explode over the next three years as Australians increasingly become inseparable from their phones and more comfortable using them to shop will be unveiled today by online payment provider PayPal.

Nielsen figures, to be released today, estimate annual purchases of goods and services using smartphones in Australia have rocketed from $155 million to $5.6 billion in just two years.

PayPal's innovation will be unfurled by the end of the week at Sydney fashion outlet Glue Store's Pitt St flagship site ahead of a rollout at other locations in Victoria, NSW and Queensland by the end of the year.

It will soon also be adopted at Sydney's Sonoma Bakery sites.

Guzman Y Gomez Mexican restaurants in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia are expected to be on board next year.

The cashless and cardless mobile transactions within physical stores are automatically charged to customers' PayPal accounts linked to their bank or credit card funds without the need to touch a point of sale terminal.

"We see this as becoming commonplace, particularly in cafes and fast food restaurants, in the next two to three years," PayPal Australia director of product and new business Andrew Rechtman said.

The initiative follows the steady spread of "contactless" card readers allowing consumers to wave or tap credit cards or mobile phones at registers to pay.

Westpac announced a smartphone scan and pay pilot earlier this year, while the Commonwealth Bank last year launched an iPhone case that can be waved in front of card readers for credit card payments.

PayPal, which first launched its development in the US last year, expects to roll out at many more stores.

"This is the first time we've enabled people to use their digital wallet physically in store. The boundaries between online and offline disappear when you have a smartphone in your hand."

Boost Your Credit Card Rewards

Credit cards can offer more than just miles and cash back. They can also help boost your future.

There are two major credit cards on the market that allow you to make certain types of investments with rewards, although there have been others in the past. The Upromise World Master Card allows cardholders to deposit their rewards into a 529 college savings plan or high-yield savings account, while Fidelity's investment-rewards cards offer a range of deposit options, including individual retirement accounts, 529 plans and brokerage accounts, to name a few.

It's a trend that has yet to take off. "There are certainly almost countless cash-back cards, miles cards and point-related rewards cards. The number of these investment-type cards, you can really count on one hand, which is sad because they're really good products," says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for credit-monitoring site SmartCredit.com.

Still, investment-rewards cards can help boost your savings, especially for younger cardholders who have time to watch their rewards investments grow, but they also come with their own rules and restrictions. Here's how to decide if an investment credit card is right for you.

How they work

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards...

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards are displayed shown in New York, in this May 18, 2010 file photo.

Like other rewards cards, investment credit cards convert a certain percentage of each purchase into cash or points. After accumulating a significant amount, cardholders can then deposit those rewards into the investment account linked to the card or opt to receive the rewards as a check they can spend or deposit into an investment account that's not linked to their card. With Fidelity, cardholders also may use points for travel, gift certificates and other merchandise. With Upromise, cardholders can use rewards to pay down student loans taken out through Sallie Mae and can accumulate greater rewards by shopping through the company's online retail partners.

"I think you need to ask yourself, 'What kind of consumer am I? Am I someone who pays off my balance every month? Am I somebody who does a lot of online shopping?' People who fit both of those criteria will save the most and benefit the most from the card," says Debby Hohler, spokeswoman for Sallie Mae, Upromise's parent company.

There are a few significant differences among investment credit cards and other rewards cards, Ulzheimer says.

"You can fund an investment with thousands of dollars of money that you've earned through a rewards card, and that money can shrink in value. That doesn't normally happen with a rewards card," he says. "If you're not able to be comfortable with that type of an account, then this is not a rewards card for you."

Do the research

Investment card holders also should carefully evaluate the terms and conditions of the credit card as well as the investment products attached to it. That means doing some comparison shopping to make sure that you're getting a product with high performance and low fees.

"The thing that's important is to know, especially when you're in tax-deferred products (such as an IRA or 529 plan), is to understand the products, know where your thresholds are within those products and ensure that you're working with a company that has the ability to help you control and monitor what's going into those accounts," says William McLimans, senior vice president of cash management for Fidelity Investments.

Is a Google Wallet Credit Card in the Works?

So much for leaving the plastic at home — Google is rumored to be launching a real-life Google Wallet credit card.

The physical embodiment of the online payment service allegedly rolls all of the user's cards into one, allowing people to empty their pockets of anything but the Google Wallet card, and their app-equipped phone.

The search engine has not corroborated the allegation, which was plucked from a leaked version of the Android app. A spokesman told PCMag in an email that the company is "always working on ways to make shopping a better experience for consumers but do now have anything new to announce today."

Android Police last week reported that the card will automatically sync with the user's online account, setting the already-chosen credit card as the default. The Google Wallet card is expected to work anywhere major credit cards are accepted. Just open the smartphone app to make changes to the designated card or other preferences.

More details emerged today, as TechCrunch reported on a new help site that seemed to confirm the potential credit card. The Google website has since been modified, but TechCrunch was able to catch early references to the card on a page titled "Eligible Devices," which pointed to devices running Android 2.3.3 or higher able to use the Google Wallet card. A release date was not mentioned, however.

But wouldn't a Google Wallet card defeat the purpose of having mobile payments? BGR pointed out that many stores don't yet have Google Wallet systems to accept mobile payments, so in the meantime, people can use the card.

Google is trying to entice people to use its Wallet feature by setting up a website that asks interested smartphone users to sign up for an invitation to a new version of the app. The landing page, launched in October, tips compatibility with Android, iOS, and "other" platforms. Until the application is ready, Google urges visitors to set up their Google Wallet online.

 

Pizza Hut hacked, customer info lost, credit card details safe

Pizza Hut Australia has confirmed its customer data was compromised during an hacking attack on its website but denied that any credit card information was lost during the incident.
 
The Pizza Hut website was allegedly hacked by a group called 0-Day and Pyknic with claims 240,000 credit card details were stolen in the process. Reports of the hacking event began to surface late last night.
 
Users that visited the Pizza Hut website were redirected to another page which claimed the website has been compromised.
 
A spokesperson for the company told ZDNet several hours ago that the company was still checking that claims of the hacking were actually true.
 
Pizza Hut general manager Graeme Houston issued a statement moments ago confirming a security breach.
 
"Pizza Hut can confirm that a layer of its website, pizzahut.com.au, was breached with access gained to names and contact information, including email addresses," he said.
 
The fast food chain has, however, refuted the stolen credit card detail claims since, according to a company spokesperson, Pizza Hut doesn't hold any credit card information from customers.
 
"That one's a furphy," a Pizza Hut spokes person told ZDNet. "[Credit card information] goes through a third-party payment gateway."
 
What Pizza Hut does collect on its website is information through its online membership application process. This includes name, contact details, home address, and what kind of pizza has been marked as favourites by individual customers.
 
According to Houston, Pizza Hut is working with its website providers to conduct a thorough investigation and has reported the incident to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
 
"The security of our online ordering system has not been compromised in any way and our customers can continue to order online in the knowledge the ordering system is secure," Houston said. "During the current official investigation with relevant authorities, no further comment will be made by Pizza Hut."

Credit card-sized mobile simplified for oldies

Charity Age UK has unveiled a basic Sim-free mobile phone that lets users dial contacts directly with the touch of an oversized button.

The credit card-sized UK My Phone, jointly developed with specialist network operator CyCell, comes with a maximum of eight customised homescreen buttons, simplifying the art of speed-dial.

No need for phone books, complicated email backups or squinting at tiny text on a high-res display, then.

There's little need for Sim-cards either, as this one comes built-in and buyers let Age UK know which numbers they'd like loading when they order. These are then set on the phone's front panel as bold buttons, which activate when pushing the handset's on-off switch, found to the rear.

Customers can have emergency services installed as one of the eight allotted numbers should they wish. The downside: you can't change the numbers or add new ones. Not without a replacement handset that is, at the cost of £40.

Each model comes with its phone number encrusted on the back so that oldies can jog their memory easily. Unlike most smartphones on the market, battery life is rated at a whopping five days.

The handset will cost users £55 alongside various 30-day rolling price-plans. These start at £7.50 a month for 50 minutes' talk time and rise to £15 a month for 500 minutes.

Alternatively customers can get the handset with a six-month bundle - 50 minutes each month - for a one-off fee of £87.50, potentially saving over £2 a month. It is worth noting that any calls made beyond these allocations will be charged at 15p per minute.

Either way, with Christmas coming up, perhaps the UK My Phone is worth a look-in as a mobile for Granny, should models such as John's Phone, be considered a smidgin too complex. ®

Action Line: Credit card issuers pay $471 million for misleading customers

In all, Capital One, Discover and American Express must pay $471.1 million in customer refunds and government fines, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, following an investigation begun last year by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and later joined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Refunds go to 6 million credit cardholders as part of three settlements between credit card issuers and the CFPB.

Refunds: Card issuers are paying for misleading consumers into applying for credit cards or buying add-on services such as "payment protection, credit score tracking, identity theft protection and 'wallet protection.' " Cardholders will automatically receive refunds as account credits if their accounts are still open, or as refund checks in the mail if their accounts are closed. No consumer action is required. Refunds will arrive by March 15.

Penalty fees: In addition to consumer refunds the three issuers will pay a total of $66.5 million in penalties. The CFPB will receive $46.1 million of that penalty money - $7 million from Discover, $25 million from Capital One and $14.1 million from American Express - to be deposited into CFPB's Civil Penalty Fund ( tulsaworld.com/CFPBpenaltyfund).

American Express: Oct. 1, CFPB reported Amex will reimburse 250,000 cardholders $85 million: Consumers misled into paying old debts they thought would be reported to the credit bureaus will be reimbursed those amount plus interest. Amex will pay $300 to customers promised that amount of money for taking Blue Sky credit cards. Consumers paying illegal late fees will be reimbursed, by March 13, plus interest. Consumers promised debts would be forgiven but later denied new cards when debts were not forgiven will receive $100 and pre-approved offers for cards with terms approved by CFPB and FDIC ( tulsaworld.com/CFPBAE).

Discover: Sept. 24, CFPB reported the company will pay $200 million to 3.5 million consumers misled into buying add-on products Dec. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2011. Some were enrolled without their consent. Restitution goes to consumers who were misled by deceptive telemarketing and sales tactics that persuaded them to pay for credit card add-ons such as payment protection, credit score tracking, identity theft protection and "wallet protection." Customers will receive restitution based on dates of purchase and length of add-on ownership. Payment is at least 90 days' fees. Two million consumers will receive refunds of all fees paid ( tulsaworld.com/CFPBDisc).

Capital One: July 18, CFPB reported the company will pay $140 million in complete payment plus interest to 2 million consumers misled into paying for add-ons on or after Aug. 1, 2010. This also applies to those who tried to cancel products during that time but were persuaded to keep products by customer service reps and will pay claims denied for ineligibility at enrollment due to unemployment and disability ( tulsaworld.com/CFPBCapi).
Original Print Headline: Credit card issuers pay for misleading customers

Skype launches prepaid cards in UK: Available in over 1,400 stores, credit starts from £10

Skype has unveiled a series of prepaid cards for the UK, offering users without a credit card the ability to top-up their accounts starting from £10. A second £20 card will also be available in UK retailers including Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys and bookseller WHSmith, with both denominations redeemable globally through the Microsoft company's online portal. While Mexico got there first, we've been told that more countries can expect their own currency-specific cards later this year. You'll be able to use the prepaid credit to pay for Skype subscriptions, including unlimited world calling bundles starting from £8.49 per month -- all in time for that incoming Windows Phone 8 app.

Fake credit cards used in bank fraud

A WESTPAC employee is accused of creating fake credit cards to fleece the company of more than $110,000.
 Police from The Rocks Local Area Command were contacted by the bank's internal investigators on Friday morning in relation to fraud involving one of their employees.

The same morning, officers arrested a 25-year-old man outside his workplace at the corner of Market Street and Clarence Street in Sydney's CBD.

It will be alleged the man created nine fake credit card accounts and used them to withdraw a total of $113,930 from several ATMs over the past year.

He has been charged with nine counts of fraud and one count of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The man is out on conditional bail and due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 4.

Physical Google Wallet credit card reportedly coming soon

Google may soon drop a bombshell on the mobile commerce world as a report surfaced Thursday the company is preparing to launch a physical credit card.

Dubbed the "Google Wallet card," this piece of plastic is for those times users can't (or don't want to) tap and pay.

It will work just like a regular credit card anywhere major credit and debit cards are accepted.

The news comes from an anonymous tipster who gave Android Police the heads up that he had already received a confirmation email for his card.

Cut up the othersAccording to the Google Wallet cards set-up instructions, users can add credit and debit cards to the Google Wallet app, then use any of the

cards to make purhcases by using the Google Wallet card.

All users need to do is swipe their Wallet card and their default payment card in the Google Wallet app will get charged.

Whenever users want to switch to another card, they can simply select a different one through the app.

All cards - except Google's - can stay at home.

Swipe and swap it with ease (Credit: Android Police)

The card can be ordered through the Google Wallet app and sent to recipients' addresses, as was the case with the tipster.

Access to exclusive offers is also available and deals are instantly redeemable. If the card is lost, all a user needs to do is cancel their Google Wallet card - not every card they own.

Big surprisesThis may very well be the service Google recently opened sign ups for, though the "next version of Google Wallet" seemingly suggested the app would soon open to more devices, including iOS products.

However, it could all be part of a huge Google scheme to conquer the mobile (and beyond) commerce world.

While a physical card steals the lede, other new features are reportedly on the way as well.

More features are in the offing (Credit: Android Police)

A "Wallet Balance" feature looks like it will let users deposit and withdraw funds while a person-to-person money transfer feature is also coming.

There's also compelling evidence a transit card is part of the new Google Wallet package.

Whether the card and new features will extend beyond the U.S. isn't yet clear, but all this could make carrier approval obsolete for everything but tap payments.

A Wallet card would let owners of iOS and Windows Phone devices utilize a non-NFC version of the Google Wallet app, too.