[Q] Fate of Google Wallet Tap & Pay

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I have been a user of Google Wallet Tap & Pay since it first started. I am currently running it on my Verizon Galaxy S3 with Alliance Rom 22. After all the painful process of getting it to work (NFC Fix, build prop, etc), Google is killing Tap & Pay on all devices <4.4. I'm a fan of Touchwiz roms for some of the features, but I don't want to give up Tap & Pay, especially as new retailers are finally starting to integrate it.

I will need to upgrade to 4.4.2, and there is still an issue with the current S3 NFC chip (NXP) not being compatible with the new HCE. Does anyone know of a fully working ROM 4.4.2, AOSP based, or a 4.3 ROM with this functionality available? Do I simply have to wait for 4.4.3, and lose Tap & Pay until it drops?

Thanks,
Alan

 

[DigitalMD]

Since Verizon has their own competing product and never supported Google Wallet, I think your chances of having it in any version of Android except by hack, like you currently run it are slim. Its doesn't seem that Google really wants to be in this payment business anyway judging from the very limited market penetration and lack of retailer acceptance.

Host Card Emulation, or HCE is not a new chip, its a new method. It allows Google to bypass carrier rules that prevent an app from accessing something as integral as an NFC secure element. Instead, it would use just NFC safely. This means that Wallet users were no longer limited to Sprint or Nexus devices, so maybe there is a chance. But I see Google's lack of marketing for tap and pay as an indication that they may let it die unless they find more marketing partners.

For more insight into Google wallet fail mode, see this interview with its creators.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3021913/...llet-creators-reflect-on-its-failures-lessons

 

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I agree with everything you just said above.

My question isn't if Google Wallet will be supported - it never has been on Verizon with the GS3, and likely never will.
While HCE does not require a NFC secure element, it currently does not support all NFC chips - there are numerous threads regarding this. Some device manufacturers have added code to make HCE work with the NXP NFC chip in other phones, however Samsung has not done this. The rumor is that 4.4.3 may add this coding.

What I am looking for is the best way to keep my Google Wallet hack options going forward.
If there is expected to be a TW based rom with the elements from 4.4.3 that will allow Wallet to work, I would go with that.
Otherwise, I may as well switch over to an AOSP ROM in the hopes that the next version will allow Wallet to work again. The deadline for the death of tap and pay is 4/14/14, so I'll have to make my decision soon.

Has anyone confirmed HCE working with SGS3 on a 4.4.2 rom? Or are we all dependent on the soon-to-be extinct Secure Element?

 

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There is hope!

There have been some articles in the past few days about mounting evidence of a 4.4.2 update for the US versions of the S3. Both Mashable and JustAboutPhones have printed leaks of the update being in the final testing phase, with possible release in the first week of May.

Both articles quote support for NFC Tap and Pay.

With Verizon, this doesn't ensure we will be able to use Google Wallet Tap and Pay, as I'm sure they will do everything they can to cripple it in favor of ISIS. However, I'll bet code can be ported from a Sprint ROM that will allow a Custom TW 4.4.2 ROM with this functionality.

I hope Beans and the AllianceRom team will be looking at this - I miss my Tap and Pay.

Alan

 

[scoutzilla]

Tap and Pay was very cool and easy to use. Main reason I rooted my Verizon S3. Lost that ability when I upgraded then soft bricked my phone. Got it back and rooted, and looking for a ROM to load that will support Google Wallet and Tap and Pay...

 

[meek2100]

I've found the link to be able to download the Samsung Pay Beta .apk file but I haven't figured out how to get it to install. Does someone else want to try? I'm stuck on a Samsung S6 Edge running 5.0.2. I wonder if you have to have 5.1.1 to run it.

Korea Link - https://kr.mpay.samsung.com/apk
US Link - https://us.mpay.samsung.com/apk

Here's a download link for the Samsung Pay .apk file I found on the Korean link. It lets me install it on my Samsung S6 Edge+ running android 5.1.1.

https://mega.nz/#!cRFkUAhT!8h7kOQ8opFy3YWal7xgw68EByv6dOsgepURGy9C005E

 

[meek2100]

It seems Samsung has created a hotline in the U.S for testers. +1-844-726-7297

I called today and they told me to download the Samsung Plus app from the Google playstore. I downloaded it agreed to the terms and logged in and then inside the app there was a link that said "Join Samsung Pay Beta". So far it doesn't do anything, but it seems promising that it might work tomorrow after the beta has officially begun.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.oh

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using XDA Free mobile app

 

[ShapesBlue]

I called today and they told me to download the Samsung Plus app from the Google playstore. I downloaded it agreed to the terms and logged in and then inside the app there was a link that said "Join Samsung Pay Beta". So far it doesn't do anything, but it seems promising that it might work tomorrow after the beta has officially begun.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.oh

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using XDA Free mobile app

Just seen something today that Samsung Pay will be available on the sprint versions of the S6 and S6 edge. I know android pay isn't far away either. I've used Google wallet for awhile on my Nexus 5 and for the most part it works well

Sent from my Nexus 5