Google Wallet could reach UK ahead of summer Olympics
updated 10:30 am EST, Fri December 9, 2011
Google Wallet rumored spreading to Britain
Google Wallet might leave the US for the first time based on the claims of French paper Les Echos. A trial run of the NFC-based wireless payment system would reportedly start up in early 2012 with the anticipation of having it ready for the summer Olympics, which start in London on July 27. Banks, distributors, and stores were supposedly in talks.
The step would be the first expansion of Wallet beyond the US and would broaden its reach in general. To date, it's only available with one carrier and one phone, Sprint's Nexus S 4G. A UK release by necessity would have to go to other NFC-equipped Android phones, such as the regular Nexus S and the Galaxy Nexus.
Other international expansion hasn't been detailed, although any rollout will depend on having stores with NFC readers in place to handle the tap-to-pay system. Nexus phones are only sold directly in a handful of countries, which beyond the UK and US include Canada, Japan, and Korea.
Google hasn't confirmed the assertions.
