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Michael B. Sauter, Adam Poltrack and Ashley C. Allen , 24/7 Wall St.

Google Wallet now works with Nexus phones on AT&T

Google Wallet, the app that lets you pay for goods with a swipe of your phone, now works with Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus owners who are on AT&T's network.

Until now, it only was available on the Nexus S on Sprint's network. The phone has a Near Field Communication chip in it to enable mobile payments. Both AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been slower to allow use of the Google Wallet app. It showed up in the Android Market Feb. 1.

A Verizon Wireless spokesman confirmed to msnbc.com Friday that the app is still not authorized for Verizon users.

Mobile Burn notes that AT&T Nexus users can download the app, but that T-Mobile customers "are still out of luck, it seems. Intrepid users with Verizon's LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus have discovered a work around that lets them install the official app from the Market as well." (Droid Life provides step-by-step instructions.)

"Thanks to a recent app update, Nexus users on AT&T and Verizon can now install Google Wallet directly from the Android Market," said Android and Me, a site that covers Android news (and also has instructions for Verizon users). "Many users previously obtained a hacked copy or side-loaded it onto their device, but now they can have the comfort of getting the latest official version from Google."

AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile had concerns about the app's security, and also have been working to develop their own NFC-enabled program, known now as "Isis." Isis is still being tested, however, and is not ready to roll.

There are some cautions around Google Wallet: One security firm, ViaForensics, recently rooted (got control of) a Sprint phone using the app and said it was able to access the credit card holder's name, balance, limits and expiration date, as well as dates and locations of transactions made using Google Wallet.

Related stories:

• Google Wallet leaves sensitive credit card data open to thieves
• What's Wrong With Google Wallet?
• Verizon says not blocking Google Wallet
• Google's Nexus S smartphone coming to Sprint May 8
• What does NFC mean for mobile payments?

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