How to enable the NFC secure element in your Google Nexus S 4G

If you own a Google Nexus S 4G, you may be wondering why the NFC secure element you have heard so much about has never been enabled. Simply put, there has been no reason to have it enabled and it has required an update to enable it. The NFC secure element part of your phone is geared towards protecting sensitive data like credit card details, general account details and future uses, like driving licenses and other forms of identification. However, a Sprint update that will be winging its way to you within the next few days is set to change that. Sprint is floating the new update over the air starting on the 11th of July (4 days from now) and it will be pushed out over a 4 day period.

What else will come with the Sprint update aside from enabling the Google Nexus S 4G NFC secure element?

Well, we can crush your fantasies right now by telling you that it’s not Ice Cream Sandwich. Not yet anyway. The update does, however, contain some much needed improvements that should let your Google Nexus S 4G rock a little harder. Firstly, you will get a 4G settings widget which should allow you to save some juice when you are not actively using faster data. You can also expect TTY and NI support to be added, but what you will probably be more enthused to hear is that your little pocket beast is getting fixes that allow for improved WiFi capability, speakerphone audio quality and 4G throughput and signal acquisition. The over the air OTA update will also improve the tuned signal strength indicators. The inclusion of the NFC secure element being enabled is just the cherry on the cake, so it’s all good!

Does the Sprint update that enables the Google Nexus S 4G’s NFC secure element mean the Google Wallet launch is getting closer?

The natural question that follows, learning that the Nexus S NFC secure element is being enabled, is why now? Yes, we know the answer is in the question. The only reason that Google would have Sprint unshackle the NFC secure element would be in preparation for Google Wallet. This could be so that it is ready for September or the schedule could have moved forward. At this point, we just don’t know. Because the NFC secure element does not cause a power drain, we actually wonder why it hadn’t been enabled from the get go. It feels good to know with so many NFC phones launching in the upcoming months that the Google Nexus S 4G will be rocking an NFC secure element before any other, don’t you agree?