Google announced yesterday it is cancelling its Hands Free mobile payment service.
The company has been piloting Hands Free Payments since March 2016.
Hands Free allowed people to pay for goods and services without taking their phone out of their pocket.
It relied on location data, WiFi, Bluetooth beacons, and other sensors to detect nearby participating stores. Pilot testers needed only to say “I’ll pay with Google” to the cashier, who confirmed shoppers’ identity with their initials and profile photo.
Google said it has learned a lot from early adopters.
“Based on all the positive feedback, we’re now working to bring the best of the Hands Free technology to even more people and stores. To focus our efforts on that, we’ll be shutting down the Hands Free app on February 8,” said the company.
Google suggests people interested in mobile payments take a look at Android Pay, which is available to most NFC-equipped Android smartphones.
