The application lets cardholders set alerts and receive notifications on account activity, such as for purchases over a certain threshold amount, a feature that should help reduce fraudulent charges, according to the credit card company. The new application also lets merchants who accept Chase Visa cards send offers, such as discounts or coupons, to users, and it links up with Google Maps to help users find stores and ATMs that take Visa. Visa says 14 merchants are part of the app’s initial launch, including 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Bonefish Grill, eBags.com, eMusic.com, FragranceNet.com, Jos. A. Bank, Lenovo, Overstock.com, Planet Hollywood, Restaurant.com and Shoes.com.
But the new app for the G1 isn’t the end of Visa’s mobile phone forays. It’s also working with Nokia on building a “contact-less” payment app for an upcoming Nokia phone. That app would let users simply tap or wave their phone over a store checkout reader to make a payment. No timeframe for that app has been released yet.
To download the new Visa app for the G1, visit the Android Market.
