Though the companies remained tight-lipped, Sources told the business newswire that Google will thousands of VeriFone Systems’ cash-register components at retail locations across these cities to  enable payments via mobile phones endowed with NFC — users will be able to pay at retail stores with a wave of their phones.

Launched in December, Google’s Nexus S smartphone is loaded with NFC hardware and Gingerbread, the latest version of the Android mobile OS that boasts an open-source NFC software stack. Bloomberg reports that Google will be able to source multiple payment and discount resources — including bank accounts, credit cards, discount and loyalty programs and/or gift certificates — from a single mobile device.

This new program would put Google in direct competition with eBay’s PayPal and ISIS — a partnership between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon using Discover Financial Systems — which are also building NFC-based mobile payment systems for retailers.

However, it looks like Android mobile users will be the only ones able to use these (well, maybe BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 users too, depending on development), as wireless carriers in the United Kingdom have learned the next generation of iPhone (either the 4GS or the iPhone 5) to be introduced this year will not support NFC. Apple pooh-poohed the tech over the lack of industry standards for NFC — which probably means Apple will appoint/create its own standard.

VeriFone Holdings has appointed Dykes to serve as senior vice president and CFO (he’ll assume the latter post following the filing of the company’s third fiscal quarter report). Dykes replaces Clinton Knowles, who served as interim CFO, after its former CFO, Barry Zwarenstein, was let go.

Venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers has plucked up previous CBS Mobile chief Cyriac Roeding. He will be an entrepreneur-in-residence and may help Kleiner Perkins move its mobile-investment project along (it has partnered with Apple to launch the $100 million iFund specifically for mobile investments).

Bebo, a social media network, has snagged Nicole Vanderbilt from Google to mastermind its international expansion plans (focusing first on France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands). At Google, Vanderbilt was the head of industry marketing in Europe and India.

Harlan Stone has been named president of Major League Gaming’s sales arm, MLG Properties. Previously, Stone was a principal at Velocity Sports & Entertainment.