SAN FRANCISCO -- Google just showed off what might be its most promising mobile payments app yet, and it's not Android Pay.
The company will begin testing a new standalone app called "Hands Free" that allows people to make purchases without ever touching their phones or a point of sale terminal, Google's head of payments Sridhar Ramaswamy revealed during a session on Android Pay at the company's I/O conference Thursday.
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Rather than so-called "tap to pay" NFC payments apps like Android Pay and Apple Pay, Hands Free will let customers complete transactions by saying "I want to pay with Google." Google will begin testing Hands Free this year at McDonald's and Papa John's stores in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year. Businesses interested in being part of the preview can sign up on Google's website for a shot at being part of the early test.
"What you're going to be able to do is no longer forage through your pocket or your bag to pay at McDonald's," the fast food chain's Chief Digital Officer Atif Rafiq explained during the session.
"You simply arrive, convey your order to the crew person, let them know you want to pay with Google and the Hands Free takes care of the rest. The app helps us verify that it's you and we've integrated our systems so once Hands Free securely charges your account, we give you your food and you're on your way."