It has been just one complete day as Verizon Wireless showed off the Galaxy Nexus, along with its contract pricing, but it has already got a hacker problem. Verizon may be reluctant to add Google Wallet to the IceCream Sandwich powered device, but hackers have already found a way to install Google Wallet on these phones. Thats quicker than the quickest.
Strangely, at the launch yesterday, Verizon contracted devices did show no support for Google Wallet. The representatives noted that they have not blocked Google Wallet and that they are “continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue.”
That can be so very true, but it is known that the Verizon team is in constant touch with AT&T and T-Mobile on a similar mobile payment system, called ISIS. This made the techies think that Verizon has no intention of supporting Google Wallet.
ISIS is expected to jump into the market some time next year. However, with this hack,it is possible that either Verizon and partners will work on cutting of the hack ( agreed that is impossible) or will have to shut down their working on ISIS or simply compete with Google Wallet on their own contracted devices, because Google Wallet is up and running right now.
Talking about the expectations, Galaxy Nexus buyers were hoping that Google Wallet would come pre-supported on the contracted Verizon Galaxy Nexus, as Google Wallet, launched in September, allows Sprint Nexus S 4G users to pay at select retail stores by tapping their phones on a payment terminal instead of swiping a credit card. Again, Galaxy Nexus even has the same wireless technology, called Near Field Communication, or NFC, as the Nexus S, the expectations had rose.
However, it didn’t happen by hook, but the crook got it in. Having said that, if one owns a Verizon contracted Galaxy Nexus, they can move around and make use of Google Wallet, with a bit of technical know-how, even if it makes Verizon lose its cool.
Detailing the installation process of Google Wallet, it was noted that users would be required to unlock the Galaxy Nexus bootloader and root the phone. To understand the technicality, Droid-Life, has pictofied the instructions to make even the noobish user understand, how to unlock the bootloader. Following the same, there was even clear detailing on rooting the phone. On the link provided, one can follow a step-by-step tutorial for the rooting of the phone.
Once a user is done with the said processes, the next step would be to make use of the full instructions for adding Google Wallet from Dustin Evans’ page on Google+.
If intending to use such hacks, one must be even warned of a few notes.
Firstly, missteps can result in a bricked phone and a voided warranty. A few do claim to have got through with it successfully, but they do not note as to which set of instructions were users.
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Secondly, installing Google Wallet on a rooted Galaxy Nexus is a violation of Google’s terms of service, which state that users are “strictly prohibited from using the Mobile Wallet Application on a mobile device or Android operating system that has been modified or customized in any way.”
Finally, one should be known of the fact that ISIS is in the making and possibly Verizon might cutoff the Wallet wings of the users. So, one would be ready for the service to be axed anytime, if Verizon gets a way out to prevent Google Wallet usage on its contracted devices.