Is Google Wallet launching today?

Is Google Wallet Launching today?

On Saturday, we exclusively let you know that Google Wallet was coming within the next week. Now reports are streaming in that suggest today could be the day that we will finally see Google’s NFC mobile wallet hit the prime time and be available to anyone who carries a Samsung Nexus S. We knew the Google Wallet was coming soon, we just couldn’t get an exact date. TechCrunch revealed yesterday that a document had come into their possession that gave the magic launch date of September 19th.  NFC World Congress kicks off tomorrow and MasterCard is the main sponsor, so today would be a perfect time for us to see the Google Wallet hit the street. Let’s also not forget this last week when MasterCard had a press day where it was showing off Google Wallet and some of its other MasterCard lab projects for NFC and audio payment systems.

In the last couple of weeks, we have seen Google gearing up for its Google Wallet launch in a couple of released videos. One of those videos we brought to you the other day, and the now famous George Costanza “Costanza Wallet” one, which you can check out below. With rumors getting louder that Visa’s own NFC mobile wallet is just around the corner, it is important for Google to get Google Wallet launched. At this time, however, only Nexus S 4G owners will be able to utilize the Google Wallet. Next month if rumors pan out, the Nexus Prime is due to launch. But don’t hold your breath for Google Wallet capabilities. Rumors we have been hearing are suggesting that Isis member mobile network operators are not allowing Google Wallet over their networks. So it might be the Google Nexus Prime, or what we are now hearing being called the Verizon-only Samsung Droid Prime.

NFC stickers for Google Wallet?

Way back when Google Wallet was first announced, Osama Bedier made an off hand comment that it would be theoretically possible to use Google Wallet type service via an NFC sticker on any smartphone. Since then we have seen a plethora of this type of sticker being used all around the world. It is being suggested that Google has developed its own NFC sticker for PayPass payments, although it is unknown whether it will be ready for when Google Wallet launches. Late last week we heard that the Google Wallet had had some hiccups that prevented them from being able to launch on September 1st, which was the original date for which they aimed. We also learned that the “top brass” had moved up the timeline by two weeks on hearing that the Google Wallet wouldn’t be ready for another three weeks. Google is also rumored to be talking with Visa about a collaboration for the Google Wallet, but from what we are hearing it will be MasterCard PayPass that is front and center again today.

We will be checking in with Google all day to see whether the Google Wallet launches and will let you know as soon as we hear anything.