PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • Google Wallet gets a huge update that makes it safer and more useful

Google Wallet gets a huge update that makes it safer and more useful

Posted: , by Michael H.

Categories:

Share:

Discuss 10
Google Wallet gets a huge update that makes it safer and more useful
Google Wallet has always been a good idea, but one that was pretty limited because of the lack of support for most major credit cards, but it looks like those days are finally over with Google announcing support for Visa, American Express, and Discover cards in addition to all Mastercards. Until now, Google Wallet only supported Citi Mastercards, but now you can use any credit or debit card you want. 

In addition to finally adding support for any credit card you may want to use, Google is also making the app more secure by moving all the data to the cloud. So, the app "now stores your payment cards on highly secure Google servers, instead of in the secure storage area on your phone." This move alone seems to have been all it took to get Visa and the other credit card companies on board with Google Wallet. Now, the system only stores a virtual card number on your device rather than your real card number. 

Another addition to security will allow users to remotely disable Wallet in the event that you may lose your device. The app still requires a PIN number, but on top of that, users can now control what devices have authorization from the Google Wallet website. 

Unfortunately, as awesome as those upgrades may be, there are still two major drawbacks to Google Wallet. First, even with the new security measures, the app will not work on rooted devices, so you will have to unroot to use it. And, of course there is still the issue of compatibility. Google Wallet is still only compatible with 6 devices: the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, Galaxy S III, HTC Evo 4G, LG Viper, and LG Optimus.

But, if you have any of those devices, Google Wallet just got a whole lot better. If you don't have it yet, Google Wallet is available for free in the Play Store. 

Share:

Discuss10

10 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

2. Non_Sequitur posted on 01 Aug 2012, 14:45 1

I wish my phone had NFC. D:

Reply

3. mikemco posted on 01 Aug 2012, 14:48 3

I want to use Google Wallet but Verizon block users from downloading it! Whats up with that??? Verizon should leave it up to the customers to use it or not to, I am always traveling for work. I take my wallet out to much for the damn airport security, I have my phone in my shirt pocket for a quick draw. Verizon you are crossing my line of freedom, wait I pay you to use your service and I should make the choose to use what apps I want !!

Reply

4. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 01 Aug 2012, 14:54

Yep. Verizon likes to screw things up.

Reply

5. AyBau27 posted on 01 Aug 2012, 15:47 2

Got some beer at 7/11 using GoogleWallet's free $10!! Thanks Google! Now my PNC card can be linked up.. now just need to be able to use at more places.

Reply

6. AyBau27 posted on 01 Aug 2012, 16:03 1

on my Sprint Galaxy S3

Reply

7. OSFantasma posted on 01 Aug 2012, 17:18

finally i was waiting for this to happen but i know regulatory and compliance has to pass before somthing like this happens...

Reply

8. crankyd00d posted on 02 Aug 2012, 02:02

Umm I'm pretty sure my old HTC Evo 4G wouldn't be able to use Google Wallet :-)

Reply

9. jbash posted on 02 Aug 2012, 08:37

Evo LTE not the OG, but the nexus A was missing from list

Reply

10. TalkingTechy posted on 02 Aug 2012, 10:44

"...the app will not work on rooted devices, so you will have to unroot to use it."

So, could you simply temp unroot with OTA Rootkeeper and then use Google Wallet?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.projectvoodoo.otarootkeeper&hl=en

Could probably setup a profile to run OTA Rootkeeper and unroot when Google Wallet is launched and then re-root when Wallet is closed.

Reply
* Some comments have been hidden, because they don't meet the discussions rules.

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920