On Thursday, Google introduced a cloud-based version of its Google Wallet application that the Internet giant says will support all credit and debit cards from the big four: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
Only one problem.
On Friday, America Express said it didn’t authorize that arrangement.
“We want to make sure Google’s mobile wallet product meets the standards we set for our cardmembers in terms of transparency and clarity about transaction detail,” American Express VP of Social Media Bradley Minor tells TechCrunch. “Right now, American Express does not have an agreement with Google for our cards to be used in the Google mobile wallet.”
Google responded to the claim shortly thereafter with the following statement.
“For many years, we’ve accepted American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover for online and mobile transactions,” Google said. “The latest version of Google Wallet extends these same benefits to people who choose to use the Google Wallet app to make purchases in-store. We are in active discussions with American Express and look forward to working together as partners as the world embraces digital payments.”
The new – and, apparently, controversial – Google Wallet app is available for download now on Google Play.
