Reports show that Sprint is looking to create their very own mobile payments system for customers, so what is the future of Google Wallet? According to sources, Sprint is reaching out to banks and other service providers to create a service to equal that of ISIS. At this time, Sprint is the only carrier to pre-load Wallet on their devices, but Google seems to continually work and build on the service, as if they have other plans. 

Update:  It’s back up and running!

We were getting many reports from Twitter this morning that Google Wallet was down. Pre-paid and Citi cards seem unavailable at the moment for a large group of people so you don’t need to worry that it’s just you and you can rest easy knowing that there is nothing wrong with your secure element. One reader called tech support to see what was up and all he got was a confirmation that the app was indeed down, no word on why. He was also not given a time frame to expect it to be back up by, so when we hear any different we will let you know.

Cheers Christian!

After updating to Android 4.0.4 on his Verizon-powered Galaxy Nexus, one of our readers noticed that Google Wallet was popping up as being compatible. As many of you know, Verizon told Google that they would rather Wallet was not made available to the G-Nex at launch as it was looked at differently than other apps, which most of us took to mean, “We have our own NFC payment system on the way, please block your own.”

So we aren’t sure if 4.0.4 and this newly found compatibility is Google’s way of saying, “Piss off,” or if Verizon has given it the thumbs up. Either way, we pulled up the listing in the Play store and it also showed that our VZW Nexus (100% stock) was compatible. It installed without issue and even allowed us to re-add our previous card and balance.

Feel free to check for yourself and let us know.

Update:  The first batch of comments are leading us to believe that this may not be the case for everyone. What’s odd is that both myself and our reader are as stock as it gets (I’m not even rooted at the moment) and it installed without issue. Continue to let us know in the comments what your outcome is.

Play Link

Cheers dragon19104!

In the Android community, factory resets and phone wipes are almost second nature, even if you aren’t a prolific ROM flasher. There are ways to get your information back onto your phone rather quickly after these wipes, but a security feature in Google Wallet leaves you with the potential of the application never working again after even a simple factory reset.

Google Wallet received an update this week to make it ready for the launch of the EVO 4G LTE. But as owners of the Galaxy Nexus noticed through the Play Store that they could also update, they grew confused when they were prompted afterwards with the superuser request to give the app root access. We have heard from at least a dozen readers that the app now asks for root and have also seen at least a handful of forum threads throughout the Android world discussing it, yet no one knows why this app would be requesting it. To be honest, we also have no clue why this app would need this kind of access.

In the past, after a “security” mishap that involved root access, Google decided that it wouldn’t support rooted devices, so all we can think is that maybe this is a new way for them to verify? The odd thing is that users are reporting that the app still works whether you grant it access or not.

Yeah, we’re confused. Any help?

Cheers Joshua and everyone else who sent this!

According to a report out of Bloomberg, Google is considering sharing revenue from Google Wallet with Verizon and AT&T to get them to adopt the mobile payment service. As you all know, AT&T and Big Red have essentially blocked Wallet from their NFC-equipped phones, as they ready a similar mobile payment solution named Isis. Sources who spoke with Bloomberg claim that the adoption rate has been slow enough that Google is re-evaluating the service. With carriers reportedly finding no incentive to allow Wallet on their network, especially with Isis on the way, this could be one of Google’s only moves. So far, Sprint is the single major carrier in the U.S. to allow Google Wallet to be used. A Verizon spokesperson said that they are “continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue.”

On a related note, an “independent” consultant mentioned that reception to Wallet has been “lukewarm” so far. All I can say to that is, “Of course it has been. It’s only available on one phone and one carrier, silly.” It’s pretty tough for a product to take off when it has been shutdown by America’s two biggest carriers and can only be accessed by a select few customers. Before other consultants spout off such insightful comments, why don’t we give it a real chance. That real chance of course, is with Verizon and AT&T on board.

Via:  Bloomberg

Cheers bigknowz!

Moments after we reported that Google Wallet users were seeing an additional $5 in their accounts without warning from Google, everyone received the email we have attached below that explains. And yep, we were right. Google wanted to apologize for the last few painful weeks with their service and has decided to hand out another $5 for any inconvenience they may have caused. 

The recent fiasco surrounding Google Wallet being exploited through root has forced a lot of Android users and developers to take a look at security on their phones. CyanogenMod has released a PSA of sorts explaining some of their recent patches to CM9 and tells us why root was the main focus.

… All Custom ROMs (CyanogenMod included) ship with one major security risk — root!

This is the basis of the Google Wallet scandal. When on a rooted phone, applications are at risk of having data accessed and this is why Google has taken the stance of saying Google Wallet is unsupported when on a rooted phone. Cyanogen’s new patches disable root in a selective way which allows for a bit more security on your phone.