Samsung's new Wallet app has numerous similarities to Apple's Passbook
Samsung on Wednesday introduced a new smartphone application called "Wallet," which bears a striking resemblance to Apple's own Passbook feature.
The new Wallet application for Android carries store cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and coupons. As noted by The Verge, the resemblance to Apple's Passbook is striking, even down to the icon Samsung chose to use.
Like Passbook, it will store all of a user's cards in one location. It will also offer time- and location-based push notifications to make it easy for users to access their cards.
And again like Passbook, the software will also automatically update with information such as membership points available, or the gate from which a flight will be departing.
Partners also include a number of companies that were among the first adopters of Apple's Passbook: Major League Baseball, Lufthansa, and Walgreens, to name a few. Samsung's Wallet application will not support NFC payment features ? something Apple's Passbook also lacks.
Samsung's announcement of Wallet, and its similarities to Apple's Passbook, are noteworthy because Apple for years has been accusing Samsung of copying its devices. The two companies are engaged in a number of patent infringement suits in which Apple has charged Samsung with copying the look and feel of the iPhone and the iPad.
Passbook debuted on the iPhone last year as part of the iOS 6 mobile operating system. It's become particularly popular in a trial run at Major League Baseball stadiums, prompting the league to announce this week that Passbook will be accepted at 13 MLB stadiums in the 2013 season.
The new Wallet application for Android carries store cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and coupons. As noted by The Verge, the resemblance to Apple's Passbook is striking, even down to the icon Samsung chose to use.
Like Passbook, it will store all of a user's cards in one location. It will also offer time- and location-based push notifications to make it easy for users to access their cards.
And again like Passbook, the software will also automatically update with information such as membership points available, or the gate from which a flight will be departing.
Partners also include a number of companies that were among the first adopters of Apple's Passbook: Major League Baseball, Lufthansa, and Walgreens, to name a few. Samsung's Wallet application will not support NFC payment features ? something Apple's Passbook also lacks.
Samsung's announcement of Wallet, and its similarities to Apple's Passbook, are noteworthy because Apple for years has been accusing Samsung of copying its devices. The two companies are engaged in a number of patent infringement suits in which Apple has charged Samsung with copying the look and feel of the iPhone and the iPad.
Passbook debuted on the iPhone last year as part of the iOS 6 mobile operating system. It's become particularly popular in a trial run at Major League Baseball stadiums, prompting the league to announce this week that Passbook will be accepted at 13 MLB stadiums in the 2013 season.
Comments
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
Left, Apple's Passbook icon. Right, Samsung Wallet.
If you defend this, you are an idiot.
There's just nothing else to be said. And no, it's not an insult. It's being kind.
(please someone be creative enough to joke "But on the Apple logo, the plane ticket has a tab on the side and the movie on the top! Samsung's is the opposite, so it's not copying!")
Some things never change.
does anyone actually use passport? let sammy waste their time copying this underdeveloped pos.
This doesn't prove anything! Samsung does not copy, they revolutionize! Just look at how they revolutionized the icon by not just having a ticket with a plane on it but having a ticket with a plane and a date on it too. Samsungs Genius never ceases to amaze me.
What will they think of next. By they I mean Apple so Samsung can do it too of course.
Originally Posted by mkart4
does anyone actually use passport? let sammy waste their time copying this underdeveloped pos.
What a valid and accurate argument¡
Of course Apple didn't invent the digital wallet but Samsung bringing this out AFTER Apple came out with Passbook and using a very similar icon design screams copy. I'm sure the Samsung/Android crowd will be here soon to tell us all differently.
It's such an obvious rip off (Down to the COLORS in the icon) there are no words...alright maybe one: shameless? Yikes. At least we can be sure the Xerox machines in Samsung's HQ are in good working order. Doesn't Apple have a patent on Passbook??
It's inexcusable really. Guess there aren't many if any people with original ideas employed by Samsung.
Yes Samsung phones do have a NFC chip. Have had them for over a year now.
Samsung continues to drive incredible innovations to the overall Android experience. This is why consumers are choosing Samsung devices over those from HTC and Sony. Samsung is in the experiences business, and consumers want these amazing experiences.