Although Google’s Galaxy Nexus has widely been praised as the best Android phone yet, there has been one glaring omission: Google Wallet. Up until now it has only been officially available to the Nexus S 4G on Sprint, but a recent change now allows an unlocked Galaxy Nexus with an AT&T SIM card to access the app’s latest update.
Enter today. I was cruising around in the market doing some research on a tip that came in and noticed that Wallet was now showing as being available to my GSM Galaxy Nexus which is running an AT&T SIM card.
In the past, as in back in December, that screenshot above looked entirely different. I know that Wallet was updated for some users yesterday, but it’s almost impossible to tell if the note that reads “Small changes for device compatibility” was a part of it. If it is, then GSM users, jump on it!
For now, Verizon users are still blocked from the app, but it’s certainly surprising that AT&T is allowing this since it is supposed to be invested in ISIS (a Google Wallet competitor). Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have shown no signs of cooperating with Google on this subject, so perhaps this is a sign that AT&T had a change of heart. At this point, however, we have no way or knowing just yet.
It is in AT&T's best interest to support consumer choice at this point. After their failed attempt to buy out a competitor and limit choices in wireless, the least AT&T could do is start making mends by allowing Android users (who account for a large user base on their network) to chose between native Google products like Wallet, or their branded ISIS payment. It also goes without saying that blocking, banning, or denying access to an Apple product wouldnt fly, so why should it fly when it happens to a Google product?
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