Google Wallet To Come Pre-Installed On AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile Android Phones

Google will partner with three major carriers to pre-install Google Wallet on Android phones.

Google will partner with three major carriers to pre-install Google Wallet on Android phones.

Even though Google Wallet has been around for several years, the mobile payment system hasn’t been the industry leader the company had hoped for, mostly because AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile created a competing app, Softcard. But Google has now reached a deal with those three providers that will result in Google Wallet being pre-installed on new devices later this year.

Google announced today it had purchased some technology and intellectual property from Softcard, and that its Wallet app will be fully integrated into devices from the three carriers. Which is good news for Google Wallet fans and bad news for people who hate bloatware.

Currently, Android users must download Google Wallet from the app store in order to use the tap and pay technology.

“Over the years, we’ve received great feedback from people who use this feature and we’ve continued investing to make it easy and secure for more people to pay with their phones,” the company said in a statement. “A big part of this is working with other innovators in the industry to help provide a seamless experience across a wide range of phones and stores.”

Even though Google created the Android operating system, it doesn’t have the control over Android devices that Apple has over iPhones. That made it much easier for Apple to launch Apple Pay with the debut of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last year, while AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile phones pushed SoftCard on their Android devices. Google is obviously hoping this move, which would get Google Wallet prominent placement on three of the four largest providers’ phones, will finally give the system some traction.

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