Google wallet - 3/4 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Mar

What Is Isis, And Why Should You Care It's Now Partnered With A Bunch Of Payment Companies? Because It's Out To Kill Google Wallet

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Editorials, News

Mobile payment providers. Yeah, I'm already getting a little sleepy thinking about them, too. Let's face it, they're not the most exciting topic in the world, but whenever we talk about how people spend their money, you know there are lots of companies out there eagerly eying the potential of various new payment technologies with great interest. Among such companies are cell phone carriers, and the reason why should be obvious: smartphones with NFC are ideal platforms for next-generation payment systems.

We know Google has already figured this out. Wallet was launched back in September of 2011, though only on the Sprint Nexus S 4G, and only with MasterCard as a launch partner.

Feb

Google Wallet's PIN Verification Cracked (Again), No Root Access Required

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, News

Last Updated: February 13th, 2012

Yesterday, a security firm called zvelo demonstrated a vulnerability within Google Wallet, cracking its PIN verification system using brute force, giving Wallet access to anyone who had the exploit. It was also revealed that the hack only worked on rooted devices, and Google swiftly reported that a fix for the bug was already being worked on.

Adding to Google Wallet's security worries, a new hack was posted online today, claiming to give access to Google Wallet (sans PIN) on non-rooted devices, requiring just a few steps to gain user information (and funds).

The Smartphone Champ reported on the newly-discovered flaw, explaining just how the exploit works:

The security flaw is painfully easy to do and requires no extra software nor does it require root. All a person who wants to access your Google Wallet has to do is go into the application settings menu and clear the data for the Google Wallet app. After doing that your Google Wallet app will be reset and will prompt for you to set a new pin the next time you open it. The problem here is that since Google Wallet is tied to the device itself and not tied to your Google account, that once they set the new pin and log into the app, when they add the Google prepaid card it will add the card that is tied to that device. In other words, they’d be able to add your card and have full access to your funds.

Jan

Sign-Up Page For Sprint's Galaxy Nexus Goes Live On Google's Nexus Site

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Galaxy Nexus, Sprint

The official sign-up page for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus has gone public on the Google Nexus site (see second bullet), as tipped by an Android Central forum reader DaEXfactoR. Outside of this random Google+ mention from Jan 17th, this seems to be the only reference to the sign-up page on the web, so chances are you haven't seen it yet.

Either way, if you're looking for information on how to rock the first and best ICS phone on an unlimited data plan without grandfathering (or so we hope), you'll want to go sign up posthaste. Or, you know, just follow Android Police.

Dec

[Download] Install Google Wallet On Your LTE Galaxy Nexus Without Rooting, Courtesy Of XDA

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, Galaxy Nexus, News

If, like many LTE Galaxy Nexus users, you are frustrated by Verizon's choice to block Google Wallet from Samsung's hottest new device, and don't want to root just yet, XDA has some good news. It turns out that Google's standard Wallet APK can be installed on the Nexus' LTE variant without issue.

The news came after many rooted users reported issues using a flashable .zip file to get Google Wallet up and running. Of course, users installing Wallet on their new Nexus devices are also eligible for the standard $10.00 credit courtesy of Google, making the news that much sweeter.

Without further ado, click either of the download links below and start impressing unwitting bystanders as you pay for purchases using your LTE Galaxy Nexus.

Dec

Verizon Wireless Says It Isn't Blocking Google Wallet, Blames Integration Issues - Orly?

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Galaxy Nexus, News, Verizon Wireless

Yesterday, a Google representative confirmed that the upcoming Verizon Galaxy Nexus will not support Google Wallet, Google's NFC payment service. The news was disappointing - it is a Google phone after all, but understandable to a degree, since Verizon Wireless is part of the competing Isis consortium, which also partners with AT&T and T-Mobile.

Verizon Wireless, however, today posted a statement and wants everyone to know that it isn't blocking Google Wallet (they actually say "Verizon does not block applications" - orly?). "Instead, in order to work as architected by Google, Google Wallet needs to be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones."

Update: "Verizon asked us not to include this functionality in the product," a Google representative told CNET.

Dec

Confirmed: Verizon's Galaxy Nexus To Lack Support For Google Wallet

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy Nexus, News, Verizon Wireless

In a rather unfortunate bit of news regarding Verizon's Galaxy Nexus, a rumor that the device will not have support for Google Wallet has been confirmed.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to Computer World today that the hotly anticipated Nexus device won't support Google's burgeoning NFC-based mobile payment system, but gave no word as to why Verizon decided to forego the service.

Verizon's decision could have something to do, however, with Isis – a consortium comprised of VZW, AT&T and T-Mobile, who have paired with four major credit card companies to form their own NFC-based payment venture. Of course, this is purely speculation, as there's no official word just yet regarding the Nexus' lack of Wallet functionality.

Nov

[Rumor Control] PayPal Support Coming To The Android Market Soon? Not Really, The Code Has Been There For Almost 4 Months

Posted by Ron Amadeo in News, Rumors

All day in my RSS reader, I've been hearing about how PayPal is coming to the Android Market. Someone ripped apart the latest Market APK and found references to PayPal, assumed this was new, and assumed that it meant PayPal support would be soon be hitting the Market.

The problem is it's not new, we found PayPal references in the market going all the way back to 3.0.26, the first release of the current market design. 3.0.26 came out in July.

Don't believe me? Go grab yourself a copy of 3.0.26, decompile it, and search the files for "paypal." There's a ton.

Oct

[Updated] Want Google Wallet On Your T-Mobile Or AT&T Nexus S? Flash This Mod, Courtesy Of XDA

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Development, News, Nexus S (Crespo/Soju)

A couple of weeks ago, the whole tech world was abuzz with the official launch of Google Wallet, a revolutionary new service that looks to replace your tired old credit cards in lieu of your Android-powered smartphone. As great as that sounds, there is one small problem: it's only officially available on one device - the Nexus S 4G on Sprint.

While NFC hasn't been widely adopted in the smartphone market yet, the NS4G wasn't even the first device to pack the appropriate hardware -- it was actually T-Mobile's Nexus S (which is the same as AT&T's Nexus S).

Sep

Nexus S 4G Android 2.3.7 Update GWK74 Rolling Out Now, Includes Wallet App, Google Shopper, Security Patches

Posted by Liam Spradlin in News, Nexus S 4G (Crespo4g), Samsung, Sprint

Last Updated: September 23rd, 2011

If you're a Nexus S 4G owner and you're wondering how to get your hands on Google Wallet and be the first nerd on the block to pay for espresso by tapping your phone, we've received a tip that a software update for the Nexus S 4G has begun rolling out (and will continue to do so over a 4 day period).

The update includes not only the official Google Wallet app, but also Google Shopper and various security patches. It looks like Sprint dealers will begin assisting customers with manually updating starting September 20th (tomorrow). If you're a user who hasn't yet received the Google Wallet app, don't worry - the wait is almost over.

Sep

It's Official - Google Wallet Is Here, Handy App Can Tell You Where To Use It

Posted by Liam Spradlin in News, Nexus S 4G (Crespo4g), Sprint

True to last night's rumblings, Google and Sprint have announced the launch of Google Wallet, a revolutionary new tap-to-pay service that allows customers to store credit card information and make payments from one app on their Android phone.

For now Google Wallet is only available to those with a Nexus S 4G and a Citi MasterCard. Google plans on adding support for various other card companies, and more Android devices with NFC capabilities are on the horizon.

A critical element to Wallet's success will be the presence of PayPass terminals capable of accepting payments via NFC. The terminals are not particularly widespread in the US at present, but if you're itching to try out Google's awesome new wireless payment system, you can find businesses with PayPass terminals using the Google Wallet webpage or by downloading MasterCard's PayPass Locator app (from the widget below).