Samsung Galaxy Nexus gets unofficial Google Wallet hack
updated 06:20 pm EST, Mon November 28, 2011
NFC-service available as Verizon preps to ship
When Verizon first ships the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus next month, the Android 4.0-based smartphone is not going to support Google Wallet, at least officially. The Android community is not waiting. Developers at MoDaCo already have posted a hack to offer this functionality.
The process is currently complicated for newcomers and involves using a custom ROM and an unofficial Google Wallet installer made for earlier phones.
Owners have to manually copy over both the modified Google Wallet and the related NFC code while setting the correct permissions.
It's not surprising that Samsung has not embedded this functionality into the Nexus' software. Google Wallet is available only in the US, and there is little incentive for either Google or Samsung to provide it for a phone intended for non-US audience. Verizon has not indicated if Wallet or any other NFC-based financial payment service will be offered on its version of the Galaxy Nexus, although it's more likely to prefer the more universal Isis than Google's.
PayPass, the NFC-based system Google Wallet needs, is so far found in the US and Canada. [via BGR]
