AppsNews

Google Wallet will come pre-installed on carrier devices this year with help from Softcard

16

softcard-tappy

After carriers shunned Google’s NFC-based payment system 3 years ago in favor of rival mobile payment service Isis Mobile Wallet (later renamed to Softcard), Google Wallet is making a comeback in a big way. We initially heard rumors last month that Google would be swooping in to buy up struggling Softcard, but it seems they’re simply acquiring some of their “exciting” technology instead.

The new partnership makes Google Wallet more carrier friendly and in a blog post, Google announced that Wallet will soon come pre-installed on all Android devices, KitKat on up. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — who launched Isis in November of 2013 — are all on board (Sprint was on board with Google Wallet from the get-go), giving Android users one less step when it comes to setting up Wallet’s tap-to-pay NFC payments on their device.

Google Wallet is now poised to go against Samsung’s mobile wallet (they recently acquired LoopPay) and Apple Pay in the mobile payment space. Suddenly things have just gotten really interesting.

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

Pebble accidentally reveals color smartwatch, replaces it with image of an actual pebble

Previous article

Get the Power Vault 18,000mAh portable battery fro $30 at AndroidArea.com

Next article

You may also like

16 Comments

  1. google wallet should be ahead of all competition but that stunt Verizon, AT&T, and T mobile pulled slowed them down a lot. they should be a comfortable 3 yrs in front. smh!

    1. Regardless of carriers, Google Wallet and Apple pay both suffer from lack of places to use it.

      1. McDonald’s has this little sign that shows how to use Tap-And-Pay. I need to set it back up, but I don’t like the NFC symbol always being there, and I’ve been too lazy navigate through my ROM settings to see if I can remove it.
        #LazyPeopleProblems

        1. I really wish there was a way to remove icons a the top of the screen, similar to what Windows has.

          1. That’s tons of ways , basically you can remove every single thing…all you need is root.

        2. Yeah, I think there’s even an Xposed module to disable it. I’m not so lucky as to have root on my Note 4. The NFC icon is only there when it is on. I only turn NFC on when I’m going to use Wallet.

        3. Please don’t eat McDonald’s :-)

      2. Really? I’m in Oklahoma and there are a lot of places that have NFC support.

        1. There are a lot of places here in Arkansas as well. But, it’s missing in the big box stores, and most restaurants. I pretty much only use it at Whole Foods, for an occasional veggie sub at Subway, and a mall store here or there.

      3. I use the google wallet MasterCard for merchant that don’t have the tap n pay so I can manage my finances easier.

      4. sometimes i go to mcdonalds just to use it. lol

        1. I have been guilty of that many times! I order by sweet tea, and tap haha

  2. I have recently used the tap and pay with my s4 but the last 2 times it has failed. Not sure why.

  3. Was loving google wallet until recently my transfers are taking a full week due to “security reasons” because I accidently had a declined charge so now they want wait a week for transfers cause they don’t trust me. Sigh

  4. Ugh more spyware and bloatware that can’t be uninstalled. Sigh. Why can’t it just stay how it is.. if you want it, go and download it.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Apps