Samsung Pay: A General User's Perspective

Samsung Pay: A Brief General User Perspective 

 

Wordy Introduction 

Contrary to what I may believe, I am part of a niche group. I wouldn't say I am a super user; however, I am very tech savvy. I can grasp new technology fairly quickly and my patience threshold is high regarding exploring (discovering) features and caveats. Alas, not every person who owns or wishes to own new technology is like me; some people are eager to use new technology, but they don't want to think about it. They want it to do what you tell them it can do; and that's it.  

There are a multitude of mobile payment options: Google Wallet (soon to be Android Pay), Apple Pay, PayPal, Square, LevelUp, MCX, a host of others and now Samsung Pay. MCX and LevelUp are QR Code based, PayPal and Square utilize mobile apps as well as card readers that plug into the headphone jack of mobile devices and Google, Apple, and Samsung use NFC. What makes Samsung Pay slightly different is the inclusion of MST. Samsung acquired MST technology when they bought the company Loop, Inc. Loop had technology that emulated the magnetic stripe on your credit/debit cards. There was a dongle as well as an iPhone case. Though the technology worked, the hardware was clunky at best. It wasn't as seamless as NFC, and people don't even use that as much as they should. Thankfully, Samsung saw the value of Loop and acquired them before Apple, Google, Microsoft, or Amazon could. [If I were Samsung, I would not license this technology; it would far more feasible to embed it into an accessory. They would make a lot of money]. Unsurprisingly, they bundled it into their future devices; the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and I'm sure the Gear S2 and other wearables. I have a Galaxy Note 5, so I will speak to my experience with that device. 

 

Use Case 

A common question is “I have a wallet with my credit/debit cards; what the hell do I need a mobile phone version for? “ Granted, the question is valid; however, there is a lot of value in mobile payments. Personally, I want to reduce the amount of stuff I lug in my pockets. I've managed to get it down to keys and my wallet with just a few items within it. There have been times that I have forgotten my wallet and thankfully options from Google and PayPal worked; but not every place has NFC terminals or PayPal partnerships. Samsung Pay, for me, has been a catalyst. I almost will never forget my phone so that is a plus in the mobile wallet column. When I need to use NFC payments, I use Android Pay, everything else is Samsung Pay; unique situations notwithstanding. 

Below is a list of successful and unsuccessful uses of Samsung Pay. 

Successful 

Brooklyn Harvest (204 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY) 

Rite Aid (723-725 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY) 

Pathmark (1720 Eastchester Rd., Bronx, NY) 

Met Food (385 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY)
Met Food (131 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn, NY) 

Unsuccessful 

Oddfellows Ice Cream (175 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY) 

My Next...

I am a self-professed tech junkie. Like most gadget and technophiles, I am excited about everything that is happening in the tech realm; from mobile and wearables to media consumption, the car and now the home. Similar to my Technoblast series, I will discuss technology and their pros and cons; however, I will temper my admonishment of rival products or services and focus primarily on why I want the particular product or service.

What's Happening...

The current trend at the moment is expanding the functionality of smartphones by turning them into connectivity hubs. Google, Apple, Samsung and others have recognized this and we are beginning to see products on the market. There are two categories that I am particularly excited about. Wearables (smartwatches, fitness bands, Google Glass; etc), and Smart Homes/Appliances. Let's start with Wearables because this has piqued my interest the most.

On My Radar...

Wearables

Moto 360

Moto 360

Though I have not physically seen or touch one... yet, I have to say that this watch really intrigues me. I love the traditional aesthetic with the round watch face and button that resembles a winding knob. I love that the display is edge to edge horizontally and that there are third-party custom displays. Aside from the aforementioned benefits, the fact that there is a version with a metal wristband is what cemented the deal for me. I am eagerly awaiting more info.

Google Glass

The first time I heard about Google Glass, I have been beyond excited. With noted partnerships with Oakley and certification for use with prescription eyeglasses, Google is set to make this device ubiquitous. Once Google truly releases it to the masses, I will part of the many clamoring to get my hands on a pair.

Smart Home

Nest Protect

Google Nest Protect (Black)

I've had my eye on Nest for a few years now. I really like their approach in melding great functionality with an understated design aesthetic. Despite recent issues with push notification with the Nest Protect - which have since been fixed - I still want this device. There are few things that ate more annoying than a smoke/CM detector that continually goes off with no hope of shutting it off short of cutting its wires.

Honeywell Lyric

Honeywell Lyric

Though Nest also makes a smart thermostat, I prefer the Honeywell Lyric because it has more features that are relevant to me.

Philips Hue

Similar to smartwatches and the like, "smart" appliances are going to make their mark in the coming years. Grand others are making great strides in this category. Light bulbs are one item in this category that I'm keeping an eye on. The Philips Hue connect to a Bluetooth receiver that you plug into your wall. The accompanying app can control the brightness and true to its name, you can change the color of the light. As an added bonus they can also be controlled via your Android Wear device.

Gaming

VR Headsets

courtesy of Oculus VR

At the moment I'm torn. There's not too much info out regarding the companies that are in this category. Notable companies are Oculus Rift, Sony, Microsoft, and even Samsung. Given how quickly technology moves, I expect this category develop at a rapid pace. I'll keep my eye on this; in especially intrigued to see how the uptick in interest will impact Google with respect to Google Glass.

Consoles

Nintendo Wii U

courtesy of  Nintendo.com

I can already see the looks on a lot of your faces, but let's keep things in perspective; not all gamers are 14+. I have a 5 yrs old and a 5 month old. They're not going to be playing Halo or GTA anytime soon. That's where Nintendo comes in. Price is not the on only factor that makes Nintendo competitive. Compatibility across platforms, fun family focused games, as well as a dedicated core of fans gives Nintendo an undeniable edge. The ability for someone to play a console game on the portable unit, allowing people to watch TV or even play a game on a different console is extremely valuable.

Android TV

Google has made some great strides with the Android OS. Besides expanding into wearables, the home and auto tech, Google has refined Android's TV functionality. More importantly, your current Android device is 100% compatible. It really is Android on your TV. Basically, they took some of the best features in Chromecast and baked it in. You have access to the Play Store, so all of your games, movies, music and other media content will be at the top of your fingers. The unilateral nature of the Android L release automatically makes your mobile device a second screen. Ostensibly, there will be TVs that will run Android TV, but if you're not an early adopter, you can still get pretty close to the experience with Chromecast.

Again, I am an admitted gadget junkie yet age has benefited me patience. Perhaps better items will come to pass on the interim, but these are currently on my radar. What products are Your Next?

Follow me on Google+ (+StarbanksBlogSpot) or Twitter (@EdmundStarbanks) and let me know. #starbanksnext