Google Wallet Bypasses Carriers With NFC Innovation

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Google Inc. discovered a way to circumvent carrier restrictions on its mobile wallet.

According to a report by Finextra, the Internet giant introduced support for Host Card Emulation (HCE) in the latest version of its Android operating system, which removes the need for access to the telecomm-controlled secure element.

With its Android 4.4 operating system, Google's platform for secure near field communication (NFC)-based transactions is supported via HCE for payments, loyalty programs, card access and more, the news outlet reported. With HCE, any app on an Android device can emulate an NFC smart card with no secure element needed.

Android 4.4 devices that will support NFC include tap-and-pay payments.

Cellular phone carriers have been hesitant to introduce support for Google's payment applications on the secure element in the NFC chip. Verizon Corp. has been especially hesitant to do so, perhaps in support of Isis, a mobile wallet jointly offered by Verizon, AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA, the news source reported.