[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePWEJ2cNMog]

The service has now been rolled out in order to help to make traveling more convenient.

Google has just announced that they have rolled out their automatic digital boarding passes based on QR codes through their Google Now service in order to allow travelers to use their mobile devices for a number of convenient purposes.

The Google Now service helps users stay up to date on everything from sports scores to weather conditions.

This latest announcement has revealed that the anticipated QR codes and associated mobile boarding passes have now gone live. It was made through the @Android Twitter account held by the company. The posting came with a video that helped to demonstrate this brand new feature to the service.

The QR codes help airline travelers to avoid unnecessary lines and boarding pass kiosks.

They also provide more convenience over having to print out the boarding passes at home, as the QR codes and additional information is all displayed on the mobile device screen. For individuals who already have smartphones and who bring them with them whenever they travel, it eliminates a number of steps that can help to reduce the number of hassles along the way.

The service is possible by accessing the flight confirmation emails that the smartphone user has on his or her device, and then automatically draws up the boarding pass based on that information. In order to actually use this pass. The travelers can simply check in with the airline as they usually would with a paper boarding pass.

Once the traveler has checked in, the Google Now automatically retrieves the digital boarding pass which is assigned its own unique QR codes. This is done on behalf of the traveler, without any additional required effort. Aside from the barcode, it also contains the terminal, gate, and seat number, as would be assigned on a printed boarding pass.

When the passenger arrives at the gate, the QR codes can be displayed on the device screen so that they can be scanned by the attendant. So far, the service works only with certain specific airlines – which have not yet been identified by Google. However, this information will likely be released over time. At the moment Google Now is available only on devices running Android 4.1 or higher.

PayPal announces retail expansion of its mobile wallet service

PayPal has announced that it is expanding its mobile wallet service to five new U.S. retail partners. This will increase the number of stores that accept mobile payments using the PayPal mobile wallet to 18,000 nationwide. PayPal has shown an intense interest in mobile commerce over the past year, hoping to engage a new generation of consumers that prefer to make purchases using their mobile device rather than traditional forms of payment. PayPal is one of the few companies that is ideally suited for the emerging mobile commerce arena because of its longstanding focus on digital commerce.

Company signs new deals with several retailers

PayPal has signed new agreements with RadioShack, Dollar General, Famous Footwear, Mapco Express, and Spartan Stores, as well as two other retailers that have not yet been identified. These stores will feature support for PayPal’s mobile commerce processing technology, which will allow consumers to purchase products using their smart phone with funds that are associated with their PayPal account.

Mobile wallet from PayPal avoids NFC technology

PayPal launched its mobile wallet in early 2012 to a limited market. The company has been testing the mobile commerce waters ever since, making modest advances in its hold on the market and showing caution in terms of consumer security. Notably, PayPal’s mobile wallet does not support NFC technology, which has become a common foundation for the mobile commerce sector. This is because PayPal was unconvinced of the security features that were associated with the technology, opting instead to institute its own technology and software to ensure the protection of its customers.

Success of mobile wallet may put PayPal on par with Google and Isis

The company has been championing its alternative to NFC technology for several months, suggesting that it provides consumers with a more secure way to participate in mobile commerce. By expanding its retail partnerships, PayPal is looking to make its wallet more available to a wider audience. If the company’s service continues to provide successful, PayPal may soon emerge as a major competitor with others in the mobile commerce sector, such as Google and Isis.