Google Wallet full download to last into Friday

Computerworld - Even though Google said its Google Wallet app was available Monday, it won't be installed over-the-air to all Nexus S 4G customers until Friday night.

A Google spokeswoman confirmed by email to Computerworld that the downloads won't occur until the end of the day on Friday, after earlier saying they should finish by the end of the day today.

Consumer Reports noted the delay in a blog saying it had hoped to test the app on Wednesday, but that it had not yet downloaded to the device the publication is using.

A Nexus S device being used by Computerworld also had not received the download as of 2 p.m. (ET) today.

Noting that Google had launched Google Wallet nationally on Monday, saying it was "now available on Nexus S 4G on Sprint," Consumer Reports added: "In its rush to be the first digital wallet on the market, Google Wallet's promotional promises seem to have gotten a little ahead of themselves."

In the past, Google's Android version update downloads to various smartphone models have been notorious for delays, generating criticism from Android smartphone users. It isn't clear where the problem with the Google Wallet app download is, with Sprint or with Google.

Downloads do often take several days, even if on schedule, as carriers roll out the software to multiple users slowly to prevent network bottlenecks that might occur by blasting out the download to all users at once. Google and Sprint haven't said how many downloads have already occurred.

Clarification: The headline to this story has been changed since it was originally posted to clarify that Google Wallet software downloads will continue through Friday. The original headline said the full downloads were delayed until Friday. However, Google's website since Monday has said the downloads are "now available on Nexus S" even though the downloads are continuing through the week.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

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