Google has filled out its NFC-based wallet service by adding the ability for users to redeem coupons and earn reward points at the same time as they pay for goods with their mobile handset.  Google has given the whole service – including payment, coupon redemption and earnings of points –  the SingleTap brand.  The attraction of this additional capability is the convenience for users since redeeming coupons and earning points happens automatically and does not involve producing a physical card for a sales assistant.  Google Wallet’s new capability was announced in a blog by Spencer Spinnell, the company’s director, emerging markets.

The company’s enhancement adds a two-way capability to the NFC communication so that a retailer’s point-of-sale terminal also sends back data to the user’s handset, as well as receiving payment data from it. The redemption of coupons and/or earning of points is now available at eight retail chains (and ten retail brands) in the US although currently only at what Google describes as “select locations”. It does not specify how many of their partners’ outlets will be offering the new service.  Google has also added a featured offers section to the wallet that includes price reductions at partner stores that are exclusive to Google Wallet users.