MMcCraryNJ
Android Enthusiast
Yes Sprint Nexus S 4G is the only phone that will do it, but it is not because they have an exclusive partnership, but because they are the only carrier who has an agreement with Google to allow it. Google has stated publically that Wallet is currently only available in the US. That is why the unlocked phones don't have access to it. They also don't have agreements with AT&T and Verizon, which is why the Nexus S on AT&T and the GNex do not currently have it either. If that changes, those phones will get it. There are negotiations ongoing about it. Another thing about it, from what I have read, Google has not released the API to have access to the secure element. So even if Verizon wanted to use Isis on the phone, they wouldn't be able to without Google's help. I wouldn't be surprised if Google is holding it back, unless Verizon agrees to allow Wallet, or pay them out of the Isis revenues. So there is that possibility too.
Also in the friendliest terms, I request you don't modify a quote of mine to prove your point. I feel it is not a fair thing to do in an exchange of ideas. Thanks.
Your points hold no merit though. It's not available in all of the US. It's only available on Sprint in the US. Those are two HUGE differences. Like I said, and you seem to keep ignoring, you can buy an unlocked, United States model Nexus S, and Google Wallet won't be on it, nor will you be able to find or use Google Wallet without hacking, even though the GSM Nexus S has an NFC chip and has no problem with running the application. And you ask how is it a Sprint exclusive? Well let me respond to your question with another question, why would Google block its own application on its own phone if it wasn't? No carrier in the US has ANY control over the unlocked GSM Nexus S. The bottom line is, Google has some sort of agreement with Sprint because they are holding back functionality themselves on their own device.
Everybody, including yourself, hopped on the Verizon bashing bandwagon to explain why "they" are holding back Google Wallet and why "they" are delaying the phone because of it. I'm simply pointing out the flaws in this line of thinking. Verizon isn't blocking anything. Either Google, or Sprint, or an already previously written agreement between the two, is. All of that nonsense about Verizon violating spectrum rules by blocking something is just that, nonsense. And that was my original point, that everyone who is stating that it is a "100 percent fact, no doubt" (IE, you) that Google Wallet is the hold up is completely wrong, and is spreading false information to others here in the process. Verizon's statement that they are negotiating simply means that they WANT Google Wallet support and are in talks with Google to provide it down the road, maybe.
I'll state this all one more time in the simplest possible terms. Verizon isn't blocking Google Wallet. They are not "stripping" ICS of any functionality since it is not coded into ICS. Google Wallet is not a part of the AOSP. As of this moment, Google Wallet is a Sprint-only function. Verizon isn't violating spectrum rules by not including it, and as such, it is not the cause of the delay. Period.