As reported earlier this month, Google may be working on a mobile payments service which ties together a number of Google products, including its mobile operating system Android, the business listings on Google Places and Google’s recommendation service (plus local advertising program) called Hotpot, which just today arrived in app format on the iPhone.
Now, according to a job posting here on Google’s corporate website, it appears the company is seeking an Account Manager with mobile commerce experience, particularly experience in Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, Point-of-Sale (POS) readers and systems, payment processing and more.
Is this the Google Mobile payments service confirmed?
Google Looking for Mobile Commerce Account Manager
First spotted by NFC-tracking site, NearFieldCommunicationsWorld.com, the job posting clearly describes a position where the Google employee will be “the engagement manager taking responsibility for the success of our largest partnerships in the Mobile Commerce space.”
“You lead deployments, optimize implementations and integrations, drive new business opportunities, and manage the overall technical aspects to build strong, successful, long-term partnerships,” the description reads.
And the applicant should have “at least 5 years of hands-on experience in Internet products and technologies, and knowledge of one or more of the following: NFC/RFID technologies, different chipset ISO specifications, integration with POS readers & systems and payment processing, technical implementation of merchant loyalty, coupon or incentive programs.“
Well, that sounds a lot like a position for a mobile payments service, does it not?
Google’s Mobile Payments Service
In case you missed it, the plans for Google’s reported mobile payments service will involve NFC technology – the wireless communication standard that works by way of a small chip embedded into mobile phones or other devices, used for transmitting data across short distances. One example of its use would be mobile payments – you could wave your phone at a cash register to pay for your purchases.
Google’s mobile operating system Android introduced NFC support into its latest version (2.3, code-named Gingerbread) and an NFC chip is built into the latest “Google experience” phone, the Nexus S.
The company has also begun testing NFC-enabled window stickers for businesses using Hotpot. These stickers, currently being tested in a pilot program in Portland, Oregon, let a passerby wave an NFC phone at the sticker, which in turn takes them to a mobile Google Places Page for that business via their device’s Web browser.
In addition, Google recently acquired a mobile payments company called Zetawire, which had applied for a patent involving mobile banking, advertising, identity management, credit card and mobile coupon transaction processing.
Altogether, these initiatives have been adding up to a mobile commerce program in development, but a recent Bloomberg report confirmed it, according to unnamed sources.
Full Job Posting
Here’s the full job posting posted Google, as it appeared this morning:
The role: Technical Account Manager
As a Technical Account Manager, you are the engagement manager taking responsibility for the success of our largest partnerships in the Mobile Commerce space. You lead deployments, optimize implementations and integrations, drive new business opportunities, and manage the overall technical aspects to build strong, successful, long-term partnerships. If you are a creative thinker who thrives in a fast-paced, market-driven environment, Google’s Partner Solutions Organization wants to talk to you. You should be a self-motivated individual looking to drive solutions for an emerging business and solidify Google’s strategic partnerships and initiatives across a variety of partnerships that include merchants, issuers, point-of-sales (POS) solution providers, mobile OEMs, etc.
Responsibilities:
Identify, drive, and optimize the revenue flow from new business opportunities by leveraging Google technologies.
Perform implementation reviews, evangelize new product features, and ensure the prompt and proper resolution of technical challenges.
Improve product feature offerings by providing partner feedback to internal cross-functional teams including Product Management and Engineering.
Guarantee the technical aspects of a partners integration (both new and ongoing) by providing necessary documentation and technical guidance.
Requirements:
BA/BS in a technical field preferred with a strong academic record (MBA a plus).
At least 5 years of hands-on experience in Internet products and technologies, and knowledge of one or more of the following: NFC/RFID technologies, different chipset ISO specifications, integration with POS readers & systems and payment processing, technical implementation of merchant loyalty, coupon or incentive programs.
Excellent project management skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work well in a cross-functional team environment.
Excellent written and oral business communication skills.
