Samsung has just announced a long list of partners that will be offering services and promos to users of its ticket and coupon management Samsung Wallet app. Unfortunately, not only is it limited to Samsung devices, the service is even limited to a very small number of Samsung smartphones.
The name might be misleading as Samsung Wallet actually has nothing to do with mobile payments. Instead, it is a way for users to digitally collect and organize tickets, boarding passes, membership cards, coupons, promos, and other related things that you’d also sometimes stash inside your physical wallet. It does, however, offer some conveniences such as reminders based on time, such as a concert date, or location, like for a sale. Samsung launched the app at the Mobile World Congress last February and only had a handful of partners, including Walgreens, Expedia, Belly, Lufthansa, and Hotels.com. Now it is considerably expanding that roster to increase the service’s national and international appeal.
Joining the ranks of Samsung Wallet-enabled services are Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines, Amtrak, Valpak, eGifter, Gyft, Yowza, SpotOn, Agoda, HRS, Opodo, and Thrillcall. American Express is also jumping into the fray to offer card members real-time access to their accounts via the Samsung Wallet app. United Airlines is also coming on board as the exclusive US airline launch partner, allowing its customers to load boarding passes through the app. Samsung Electronics Media Solution Center president Dr. Won-Pyo Hong believes that their Samsung Wallet offers a much needed convenience as the mobile ticketing and coupon redemption trend continues to rise.
As expected, this convenience is limited only to Samsung users. However, while the app, which appeared in Google Play Store last August, is available in the US and other countries, it is only compatible with the manufacturer’s more recent high-end smartphones such as the Galaxy S III, the Galaxy S 4, the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Note II, and the Galaxy Note 3.
