Google Wallet Sidesteps Carriers' Secure Elements

Google is sidestepping the telcos that seek to dominate the mobile wallet. It's building a workaround into its latest Android operating system that could be used to allow Google Wallet to bypass mobile-carrier-controlled secure elements.

The search engine giant's release of "KitKat" includes a Host Card Emulation add-on that allows any device running the Google software to initiate near-field communication transactions.

"With HCE, any app on an Android device can emulate an NFC smart card, letting users tap to initiate transactions with an app of their choice — no provisioned secure element (SE) in the device is needed," Google said in a blog post.

In the past, most carriers have flat out refused to allow Google Wallet onto devices on their respective networks. This feature beats that resistance.