Google Wallet - Availability

Availability

Initially, the only phone supported is Sprint's Nexus S 4G and the Asus Google Nexus 7 tablet, but Google plans to produce NFC stickers associated with one credit card each, to be affixed to non-NFC-capable phones. Two methods for providing money to the service are advertised, Citi Mastercards and Google Prepaid Card, which can be loaded using any major credit card. During Google Wallet's unveiling at NYC headquarters, Google also touted the openness of their new system. Google said it will partner with all vendors of non-Android phones, including Apple, RIM, and Microsoft.

On December 6, Verizon announced it is not blocking Google Wallet on its Galaxy Nexus phones, despite rumors: "Google Wallet does not simply access the operating system and basic hardware of our phones like thousands of other applications. Instead, to work as designed by Google, Google Wallet must be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones." said a Verizon rep. This was believed true because Verizon plans to roll out its own payment system, ISIS, in partnership with AT&T and T-Mobile in 2012. Supported phones include the (Sprint, Verizon and Play Store) Galaxy Nexus, LG Viper 4G LTE, LG Optimus Elite. The Sprint Galaxy S III and Nexus 7 also offer Google Wallet. Unofficially, it runs on all US variants of the Galaxy S III.

In order to expand Google Wallet's coverage across major mobile carrier networks and enable Wallet acceptance at more merchant locations, Google plans to introduce a physical card that will work in conjunction with Google Wallet. In doing so, Google follows the lead of PayPal and various payment startups, including Wallaby Financial, Protean Payment, and iCache International.