But with billions at stake in the mobile payments revenue stream, every player in the ecosystem is moving very, very cautiously. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus , set to go on sale later this month, was supposed to be the first Android device on the Verizon network to feature Google Wallet. It's the third of Google's "hero" Android smartphones, which are designed by Google explicitly to show off the cutting-edge features of its Android operating system.
Google partners with manufacturers on the phones -- Samsung, in this case -- and releases them under the "Nexus" brand. Verizon VZ , Fortune 's spokesman Jeffrey Nelson countered that the company "does not block apps. Verizon didn't explain why that was a problem, particularly because Google's technology has been working just fine on Sprint's network for several months.
But Verizon said it is continuing "commercial discussions" with Google about the issue. It's not a direct answer, but it's possible to read between the lines. Since Verizon said it is working to provide access to "an" open wallet, and not specifically Google's Wallet app , it's likely that Verizon is hoping to favor its own mobile payments option over Google's. Following my report that Verizon's Galaxy Nexus phone would not support Google Wallet , Verizon Wireless has issued a statement clarifying its position on the matter.
As I reported yesterday, Verizon opted not to include the Google Wallet service on its version of the new Nexus device, according to a Google spokesperson. From my original story:.
A Google spokesperson confirms to me that the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will not include Google Wallet -- and that the choice was made by you guessed it Verizon. The carrier, as you may recall, has been working on its own NFC-based payment service for some time now; the decision may or may not be related.
Some websites went on to state that Verizon was "blocking" the Google Wallet application from the Galaxy Nexus phone. In its statement, the carrier refutes those claims, saying it "does not block applications" and discussing how security implications set Google Wallet apart from typical mobile applications. The wireless carrier said it's still in talks with Google to bring the service to its phone, but said the recent reports are false.
Verizon Wireless denied claims that it was blocking the Google Wallet mobile payment application on the upcoming Galaxy Nexus. Google Wallet, unlike other applications, needs to be integrated into a secure part of the phone that is proprietary to Verizon, the carrier said. As a result, Verizon and Google are still in commercial talks over the issue.
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