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BEACON TRANSCRIPT – Holiday campaigns have been getting in our face ever since Halloween, and Google has found its own pet project as well. Trying to kickstart its mobile payment method, Android Pay, the search giant has announced it wants to donate up to a million dollars in partnership with nonprofit DonorsChoose.org.
For the first time Google pairs up with an NGO for its mobile payments campaign, the money will go toward special education projects. However, Google has a bit of experience in mobile donations, even though they weren’t very successful.
A few years ago, Google.org – the company’s own philanthropic division – created the One Today app for Android. The app allowed users to donate $1 to different charitable organizations via their mobile phone, but the little interest from consumers was reflected in the less than 100,000 installs.
Hopefully, Google’s next move into charity will do much better. According to Google, each time a user makes a purchase via Android Pay, Google will donate $1; the campaign starts today, November 25, and goes through the end of the year – or until the company reaches $1 million in donations.
Partnering with DonorsChoose.org, Google hopes to aid the 6.4 million children with special needs in the U.S. and their education system. In addition, all Android Pay purchases made on November 27 – on Black Friday – will be worth double in Google’s money.
Similar to the Apple Pay service offered by Google’s main rival, Android Pay is a payment solution compatible with the newer Android devices. Instead of going through the hassle of paying by card, Android Pay allows consumers to simply tap to pay at point-of-sale. Plenty of big-name retailers are already supporting this technology.
Google says there are more than a million locations in the U.S. where customers can use Android pay; so if you’re shopping at AT&T, Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us, Office Depot, Bloomingdale’s, Walgreens, Express, Whole Foods, Macy’s and many others – you’re in luck.
To be completely honest with you, this charitable campaign is more than an altruistic effort on Google’s part; the company seeks to give mobile users an incentive to start using this payment method more. Just like any other changes in behavior – dieting, working out – Google is aware people need encouraging.
Given the holiday spirit, Google hopes to appeal to the users’ humane side, giving them a reason to start using Android Pay for a good cause. Moreover, the campaign’s timing couldn’t be better, hitting at a time when customers are likely doing a lot of actual shopping at real stores.
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