Samsung sucks for removing the micro SD and MST Samsung Pay.

[corvette72778]

If i go to a post office, every cashier has an NFC enabled card reader.

Please send a picture. I've been to 6 post office locations around me that do not

 

[corvette72778]

So now that it's gone and we have to use NFC does it drain your battery any less to leave NFC on all the time or is it best to just turn it on if you know your using Samsung Pay?

Advanced technology MST isn't gone if you have or upgrade to one of the top 2020 or earlier phones.

S21 is a clear downgrade.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Please send a picture. I've been to 6 post office locations around me that do not

I can do that next time I'm in a post office, which might not be this year lol.

You should also be aware that I'm British, and shops here aren't stuck in 1997.

As far as I'm aware, MST has never even been included in UK Samsung phones.

 

[Mike Dee]

Somebody? Everybody in this conversation agrees that NFC isn't everywhere. The disagreement is over whether that implies that a leading-edge phone should still support MST.

Not everyone agrees and your point of view doesn't represent the disagreement nor the discussion.

 

[Mike Dee]

So now that it's gone and we have to use NFC does it drain your battery any less to leave NFC on all the time or is it best to just turn it on if you know your using Samsung Pay?

Battery drain isn't the issue. The issue is the NFC doesn't work every where.

 

[Mike Dee]

Please send a picture. I've been to 6 post office locations around me that do not

He is not in the U.S.

 

[Mike Dee]

I can do that next time I'm in a post office, which might not be this year lol.

You should also be aware that I'm British, and shops here aren't stuck in 1997.

As far as I'm aware, MST has never even been included in UK Samsung phones.

Which makes your point limited to the area in which you reside and pointless for the areas in which you do not.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Which makes your point limited to the area in which you reside and pointless for the areas in which you do not.

That's true of every single person making a comment in this thread.

For the record, I'm not saying MST wasn't useful to people, and I do have sympathy for people that relied on it. My point is that people shouldn't HAVE to rely on it in 2021. It was always a bridge technology and always had a clock on it.

It makes sense that Samsung stops producing these modules that are only useful in one market because that market refuses to join the 21st century with the rest of us.

 

[buzzy3970]

One market? Not to mention one of the largest markets. Samsung acquired loop pay in 2015 for their MST technology so it's not surprising for us to be shocked by MST removable not to mention that MST products will still be useful for the unseeable future as the magnetic strip itself is not going anywhere. I'm just glad that I still have a device with the technology so I don't have to worry about it not being an option when I need it.

That's true of every single person making a comment in this thread.

For the record, I'm not saying MST wasn't useful to people, and I do have sympathy for people that relied on it. My point is that people shouldn't HAVE to rely on it in 2021. It was always a bridge technology and always had a clock on it.

It makes sense that Samsung stops producing these modules that are only useful in one market because that market refuses to join the 21st century with the rest of us.

 

[Gary02468]

Not everyone agrees

Apologies if I missed it--where exactly did someone here disagree with the statement that "NFC isn't everywhere"?

and your point of view doesn't represent the disagreement nor the discussion.

LOL well sure, the debate here about the need for MST/SD would be rather dull if any single point of view represented the entire discussion.

To summarize: yes of course NFC isn't everywhere and some customers still benefit from MST. The question is whether enough customers still get enough benefit to justify the cost of including MST in a new leading-edge phone (anyone who still really needs MST can use older or less-advanced phones instead).

 

[donm527]

Two years ago I went to Switzerland with family on vacation. At a time where in the US I could barely find stores that had NFC on their card readers and loved Samsung Pay because MST worked everywhere, I was so surprised that everywhere I was in Switzerland... big city to the tiniest of mom and pop stores out in the country... So surprised to see NFC supported everywhere. Just made me think how so far behind the US was. Much different now.

I said earlier I use Google Pay now cause I find it just works faster than Samsung Pay and for me pretty much works everywhere I go in my area but definitely for many in other areas that may not be the case and ymmv. I don't remember the last time I paid for anything in cash and almost always with my phone and I think since I got my N20U in August, I had to fall back to Samsung Pay once for MST.

I think they should have kept it for another year or two. It's good backup. A no-lose for them to keep one more chip on their system board. It's too bad though because I do I think they will damage Samsung Pay's appeal doing this and will probably cost them more users moving to Google Pay. Maybe it's just me but when I do a side by side... GP is always faster than SP at the readers and that's why it's my primary now.

 

[Gary02468]

I use Google Pay now cause I find it just works faster than Samsung Pay

Thanks, that's good to know. Even though I too never use MST anymore, it never occurred to me to switch to Google Pay. I'll probably give it a try now (although I usually pay using my watch, which only supports Samsung Pay).

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

Advanced technology MST isn't gone if you have or upgrade to one of the top 2020 or earlier phones.

S21 is a clear downgrade.

Of course it is, and it makes perfect sense.

1) they needed to lower prices.

2) Most people aren't upgrading every year anymore.

3) Samsung phones are pretty future proof at this point. Anyone with an S20, shouldn't even be looking at these phones, unless you're a junkie.

 

[frankd1]

Antiquated or not Samsung just shot themselves in the foot once again since there's nothing unique now that separates them from other payment systems. With google pay new reward features it's making more and more sense to transition to them where it's not phone dependent. This is the saddest I've been with a galaxy launch in years.

Agreed! MST (and MicroSD support) is the only reason I've stayed with Samsung this long. I would've jumped ship to a Pixel years ago without these features.

 

[frankd1]

I'm not sure they shot themselves in the foot... It's big news in an Android forum full of tech heads, but I wonder if Jo Public actually gives a damn.

Don't forget, Samsung knows exactly how many people use MST and how often they use it. If it was actually the killer app you think, it would still be there.

I wouldn't say the frequency of MST use is a good metric to apply. I only use a non-NFC terminal once or twice a month. Regardless, having MST gives me the comfort to leave my wallet (or a specific credit card) at home, and I continue to buy Galaxy phones to keep that convenience/peace of mind. Tech companies always look for "sticky" features to encourage brand loyalty (like an iPhone user being dependent on iMessages). I, for one, have no reason to stick with Samsung anymore if MST is gone.

 

[blopez24]

I'm just upset with the removal of expandable memory. I use my phone for work and usually have a lot of files j carry with me. so the expandable memory helps. especially when video is at 8k/4k 128/256gb go fast and with apps on phone it sucks.

I was on the check out when I checked on stats better and cancelled my purchase of the ultra

 

[Mike Dee]

Two years ago I went to Switzerland with family on vacation. At a time where in the US I could barely find stores that had NFC on their card readers and loved Samsung Pay because MST worked everywhere, I was so surprised that everywhere I was in Switzerland... big city to the tiniest of mom and pop stores out in the country... So surprised to see NFC supported everywhere. Just made me think how so far behind the US was. Much different now.

I said earlier I use Google Pay now cause I find it just works faster than Samsung Pay and for me pretty much works everywhere I go in my area but definitely for many in other areas that may not be the case and ymmv. I don't remember the last time I paid for anything in cash and almost always with my phone and I think since I got my N20U in August, I had to fall back to Samsung Pay once for MST.

I think they should have kept it for another year or two. It's good backup. A no-lose for them to keep one more chip on their system board. It's too bad though because I do I think they will damage Samsung Pay's appeal doing this and will probably cost them more users moving to Google Pay. Maybe it's just me but when I do a side by side... GP is always faster than SP at the readers and that's why it's my primary now.

If it's faster I've never noticed. Not that I believe it would be fast enough to make a difference that really matters.

 

[HJStrawberry]

First, it was the removable batteries, then the IR blaster, now it's the MST.
While losing features sucks, they are catering to the masses. NFC is more widespread and "nearly" everywhere. Some people won't like it. But, they will still sell lots of phones.

That's the problem, they're not selling lots of phones. Last year was a failure for them. So theyre trying again by dropping the price this year in hopes of better sales. But in turn that requires losing features to cut cost. I don't think it'll pay out in the end. I live in a major metro area and 90% of the time I'm using MST. Especially with Covid I try to avoid touching terminals. Also cloud storage is just another ridiculous cost that will be more than a simple microSD.

 

[Mike Dee]

That's the problem, they're not selling lots of phones. Last year was a failure for them. So theyre trying again by dropping the price this year in hopes of better sales. But in turn that requires losing features to cut cost. I don't think it'll pay out in the end. I live in a major metro area and 90% of the time I'm using MST. Especially with Covid I try to avoid touching terminals. Also cloud storage is just another ridiculous cost that will be more than a simple microSD.

Removing features isn't always about lower cost. Its often about design configuration.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

I'm just upset with the removal of expandable memory. I use my phone for work and usually have a lot of files j carry with me. so the expandable memory helps. especially when video is at 8k/4k 128/256gb go fast and with apps on phone it sucks.

I was on the check out when I checked on stats better and cancelled my purchase of the ultra

Damn, transferring large 8K video files to the SD card in your phone must be EXCRUCIATING!

Whether you stick with an SD card or not, please do yourself a favour and get yourself a portable SSD.