The idea is that anyone can walk in to a store, find what they want and head to the register, requiring only their face and a moment's conversation to purchase something.
Hands Free is in a limited pilot programme at select stores in the Silicon Valley area.
Google said that it uses a variety of sensors in a users' smartphone, including Bluetooth and wi-fi, to detect when shoppers are in a particular store.
When at the cash register, the users simply have to say, "I'll pay with Google" and give their initials to the cashier.
The store employee checks the initials and a picture that users have uploaded to their payment accounts to verify that they are who they claim to be.
According to the company's website, stores never get access to consumers' full credit card information.
Users also get a notification when their Hands Free account has been used, as a fraud-prevention measure.
But the real push toward mobile payments has come from companies that see the appeal of controlling mobile payments.
In addition to payment-focused start-ups and traditional credit card companies, tech firms such as Samsung, Amazon and Apple have turned to mobile payments as an opportunity to raise their profile with customers and become more indispensable in their daily lives.Hands Free demonstrates that Google has larger plans in this space.
The company said it's also planning a programme that works solely based on matching your Google Hands Free picture with an image of your face taken at the register.
- The Washington Post
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