Google Wallet - No Root Needed :)

Trooper · Dec 23, 2011

So you guys are side loading Google wallet and using it? I dunno, but Id rather not using something like this unless it came directly from Google/VZW via OTA etc.

SirKronan · Dec 24, 2011

Trooper said:
So you guys are side loading Google wallet and using it? I dunno, but Id rather not using something like this unless it came directly from Google/VZW via OTA etc.

That mentality certainly has merit. I did some more digging and on a phone call with Google, we definitely touched on the subject of it not being an official app for this phone yet. It's an app released for a different Nexus on a different network that has been modified to work on our phone. Who knows what other modifications have been made, and what it's doing in the background? It seems pretty safe so far, and most devs on XDA who own this phone and want the service seem comfortable using it. In addition, it runs without root access, so at least there's a bit of piece of mind there.

But of course, it never hurts to err on the side of caution. I certainly wouldn't fault you for waiting until Verizon hopefully eventually, and of course most magnanimously, permits Google to release Google's own payment app on Google's own pure phone.

ryknoll3 · Dec 24, 2011

I've been using it and it's worked perfectly up until now, but I tried to use it at CVS today for a $52 purchase, and it worked fine up until the clerk asked for the last for digits on the card. I'm using the Google pre-paid card. I open the app, tap on the card and show the "user ID" or whatever it's called, which is 16 digits formatted like a credit card #. I give her the last 4, but it wouldn't go through. She tried twice and then it declined the card because of the unsuccessful attempts. I had to use a different card I had on me.

Anyone else run into someone asking for last 4 digits before?

I think I will use up $60 I have on the card and uninstall it. It's a pain to have to load it all the time, I don't get the same points that I get with my regular credit card and if I can't use it for larger dollar purchases, that will be a pain as well. I also don't like to be a nuisance to people in line behind me while I stand there trying to get this cool, but mostly gimmicky (for now) payment system to work.

clb2196 · Dec 24, 2011

Just made a $72 purchase at CVS with no issues. They didn't ask for last 4, but I did have to sign.

SirKronan · Dec 24, 2011

ryknoll3 said:
I've been using it and it's worked perfectly up until now, but I tried to use it at CVS today for a $52 purchase, and it worked fine up until the clerk asked for the last for digits on the card. I'm using the Google pre-paid card. I open the app, tap on the card and show the "user ID" or whatever it's called, which is 16 digits formatted like a credit card #. I give her the last 4, but it wouldn't go through. She tried twice and then it declined the card because of the unsuccessful attempts. I had to use a different card I had on me.

Anyone else run into someone asking for last 4 digits before?

I think I will use up $60 I have on the card and uninstall it. It's a pain to have to load it all the time, I don't get the same points that I get with my regular credit card and if I can't use it for larger dollar purchases, that will be a pain as well. I also don't like to be a nuisance to people in line behind me while I stand there trying to get this cool, but mostly gimmicky (for now) payment system to work.

I just plan to charge it once and a while with funds for eating out and such. It will keep me on a budget, and for small purchases it will save me time - no signing, no pulling my wallet out. Just swipe the phone and eat. I can use it at places like McDonald's and Jack in the Box and it won't be tied to any of my actual bank accounts or anything.

jackmo56 · Dec 26, 2011

Alright guys, I just installed this on my GN and I couldn't figure out where to look for the $10, it wasn't showing anywhere, I ended up clicking on "payment cards" and swiping over to "add Google Prepaid Card" and tapped on it, than after a few seconds it said "$10.00 remaining". I thought the funds would show up automatically but for me I had to go thru that extra step, was this the same for everyone else? I haven't tried it yet but so far so good.

edhgreatone · Dec 26, 2011

jackmo56 said:
Alright guys, I just installed this on my GN and I couldn't figure out where to look for the $10, it wasn't showing anywhere, I ended up clicking on "payment cards" and swiping over to "add Google Prepaid Card" and tapped on it, than after a few seconds it said "$10.00 remaining". I thought the funds would show up automatically but for me I had to go thru that extra step, was this the same for everyone else? I haven't tried it yet but so far so good.

This is correct ... you have to hit the Google + to register for your $10 free bucks

adjuster11 · Dec 26, 2011

To this.

Schex13 · Dec 27, 2011

I know for me, I'll see if I can reload the Google pre-paid card with a Visa gift card that I got for Christmas. That way it's not my info that can really be taken, as far as I know. In the future I might go the same path to reload it -- buying a Visa gift card from a place that doesn't charge a fee for it

My concern is about people having trouble with it on custom ROMs or even when the official 4.0.3 update comes out, so I don't know how much I'm willing to sink into it that it would take some doing to get back if the app breaks in an update.

For me, today, it was just awesome to say "My phone just bought my Slurpee!"

SirKronan · Dec 27, 2011

I was in McDonald's again. I remembered that one of the McDonald's in my town has those pay pass things but they don't work, so I briefly asked if they worked while ordering. When told that they for sure do, I finished ordering, pulled my phone out of my pocket, and stuck it on the pay pass terminal. The young guy running the register started to speak.

Cashier: "Um, sir, I don't think that's going to wor..."

Register: "BEEP".

Cashier: "Oh. It worked. Wow."

Look on cashier's face? Priceless.

I love this darn phone.

crackers8199 · Dec 27, 2011

SirKronan said:
I was in McDonald's again. I remembered that one of the McDonald's in my town has those pay pass things but they don't work, so I briefly asked if they worked while ordering. When told that they for sure do, I finished ordering, pulled my phone out of my pocket, and stuck it on the pay pass terminal. The young guy running the register started to speak.

Cashier: "Um, sir, I don't think that's going to wor..."

Register: "BEEP".

Cashier: "Oh. It worked. Wow."

Look on cashier's face? Priceless.

I love this darn phone.

i had a similar experience at mcdonalds last week...

counter lady: "are you doing something with your phone there? <after the register beeped and receipt started printing> what?!??!?!? what the hell did you just do?!!!??!?!?"

indianajonze · Dec 27, 2011

for a real hoot tell them you just hacked their system. i got out of there just as they were deciding whether or not to call the police

umataro42 · Dec 27, 2011

Just installed and got my free $10 credit. Since I use my credit cards for their rewards, I'll probably wait until Google Wallet works withe cards I have instead of signing up for a Citi MC (which I used to have but cancelled). I might reload the Google card to use for quick payments at 7-11 or Rite-Aid though.

ebe3692 · Dec 27, 2011

tried it for the first time today at Mickey D's and it didnt work
so disappointing.

placed it on the paypass, it opened to wallet. I entered pin, put it back on.
it said payment sent, and then went to a screen saying it didnt go through and to try again or talk to cashier.
tried again and still no go.
ended up having to use my card which worked just fine on the paypass thing.

Ciggy · Dec 28, 2011

If i root and re install wallet will my 20 balance remain or should i spend it?

DucatiDude · Dec 28, 2011

indianajonze said:
for a real hoot tell them you just hacked their system. i got out of there just as they were deciding whether or not to call the police

Priceless...

ebe3692 · Dec 28, 2011

ebe3692 said:
any answers as to how the app is going to survive flashing a new rom?
I am a little worried that it will be unhappy with being reinstalled as it interacts with the phone differently than your average app as evidenced by the problems people had with install of the apk if prior install was done via zip.
anyone with experience w reinstall?

this is what I was worried about: Google Wallet's Secure Element Not Responding Error Explained
I think flashing new ROMs may screw up the secure element. I plan to stick with a stock ROM but I'm a bit nervous about whether this will happen when the next OTA comes out and I try flashing an update.

drdoom · Dec 28, 2011

ebe3692 said:
this is what I was worried about: Google Wallet's Secure Element Not Responding Error Explained
I think flashing new ROMs may screw up the secure element. I plan to stick with a stock ROM but I'm a bit nervous about whether this will happen when the next OTA comes out and I try flashing an update.

I hope Google has a fix for this that doesn't involve me getting another Galaxy Nexus.

Edit: I've been doing a bit of digging, and I might have a possible solution.

From Google's Wallet FAQ

How does Google Wallet protect my payment credentials?

Your payment credentials are stored in a chip called the Secure Element contained within your Nexus S 4G. The Secure Element is isolated from your phone’s main operating system and hardware. Only authorized programs like Google Wallet can access the Secure Element to initiate a transaction. Additionally, because Google Wallet enforces a PIN, the only way to transmit payment credentials is if you first enter the PIN.

Is it possible to remove all cards from the phone?

Yes, you can reset Google Wallet and remove all payment credentials and transaction data via the Settings menu.

I'm too concerned to test this myself, but I wonder if resetting Google Wallet before flashing a new ROM or installing OS updates would prevent it from being locked out of the secure element.

ebe3692 · Dec 28, 2011

drdoom said:
I hope Google has a fix for this that doesn't involve me getting another Galaxy Nexus.

Edit: I've been doing a bit of digging, and I might have a possible solution.

From Google's Wallet FAQ
I'm too concerned to test this myself, but I wonder if resetting Google Wallet before flashing a new ROM or installing OS updates would prevent it from being locked out of the secure element.

Good find. I'm definitely going to wait and let others go first before I try updating but it sounds like a possible workaround.

drdoom · Dec 28, 2011

ebe3692 said:
Good find. I'm definitely going to wait and let others go first before I try updating but it sounds like a possible workaround.

Anyone brave enough to try this method to see if it works?

Keyan · Dec 29, 2011

ebe3692 said:
tried it for the first time today at Mickey D's and it didnt work
so disappointing.
placed it on the paypass, it opened to wallet. I entered pin, put it back on.
it said payment sent, and then went to a screen saying it didnt go through and to try again or talk to cashier.
tried again and still no go.
ended up having to use my card which worked just fine on the paypass thing.

i had the same issue.

try opening wallet before hand and typing in your pin, and THEN putting up to the paypass sensor.

Ciggy · Dec 29, 2011

Ciggy said:
If i root and re install wallet will my 20 balance remain or should i spend it?

Did it anyway. Yes my money remained, same phone, same rom. Just rooted.

DucatiDude · Dec 29, 2011

So, if we root and change ROMS's does that boink Wallet? Meaning it will never work again on that phone and we lose our money?

WishinItWas · Dec 29, 2011

I had wallet on mine unrooted, only had the free $10 balance on it thought, I unlocked/rooted and when I reinstalled it came up with the $10 balance and no issues ...I forgot to check if the ID number changed at all.

I put an additional $20 on it the other day and tried it out for the first time today at Mac-D's no issues at all!

I still am curious about all of the questions raised about switching roms etc.

ebe3692 · Dec 29, 2011

DucatiDude said:
So, if we root and change ROMS's does that boink Wallet? Meaning it will never work again on that phone and we lose our money?

I have definitely heard of people changing ROMs without getting the error.

But there is clearly some sequence that triggers a secure element error- its complicated because some roms come with it pre-installed and some not, some ppl are using titanium, others nandroid, upgrading to same rom vs switching ROMs - too many variables and it is unclear what causes the error.

Google Wallet - No Root Needed :)

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