Verizon reports blocking of Google Wallet over secure element requirements
It seems that the battle rages on between Google and Verizon over the Google Wallet app with the FCC now getting involved.
As reported by Phandroid.com, Verizon’s support of Google Wallet has flip-flopped since the app’s inception. The wireless giant’s inconsistent support of Google Wallet is likely a result of its loyalty and involvement in the ISIS Mobile Wallet initiative.
The latest development in the story is an FCC complaint filed against Verizon, which the wireless giant wasted no time in responding to. In its response, Verizon made it very clear that Google Wallet— along with Starbucks, PayPal and Square— would not be blocked if the app didn’t require access to the device’s secure element (SE).
Verizon is certainly keen to the anti-trust concerns that are being attached to its disagreement on Google Wallet issue, due largely to its involvement and subsequent conflict of interest with the ISIS mobile wallet project.
Verizon goes on to state that Google is free to offer its Wallet app in a manner that doesn’t require integration with the secure element. However, Verizon seemingly won’t grant an app access to the secure element until it undergoes a “special process”— a process that is conveniently undisclosed in Verizon’s response to the FCC complaint.
The conflict between Verizon and Google Wallet is far from resolved, and the involvement of the FCC certainly adds a new level of trepidation to the issue. For now, however, Verizon seems content to make Google Wallet available provided the app jumps through the proper hoops to do so.
See the Phandroid release and a copy of Verizon’s response to the FCC complaint here.