Anyone remember that FCC complaint we showed you last week? The one filed by a consumer against Verizon for blocking Google Wallet? Anyone remember the official response by Verizon? No? Let me refresh your memory.

Verizon responded to the FCC complaint by first denying the fact that they block Google Wallet (which, of course, they do) and proceeded to contradict themselves by then going into details as to why they block Google Wallet.

According to Verizon, the reason why Google Wallet is being blocked has to do with the fact that it requires integration with a device’s “secure element.” Something Verizon claims no other payment application requires.

Google Wallet is different from other widely-available m-commerce services in that it requires integration with the “secure element.”

Google is free to offer its Google Wallet application in a manner that doesn’t require integration with the secure element, and many payment applications do just that.

ORLY?

Apparently Verizon has forgotten exactly how their own payment system, ISIS (the real reason for Google Wallet being blocked), works.

As can be seen in the above screenshots, ISIS “only works with phones that support and contain both a Secure Element and Near-Field Communication (NFC).”

Click on the conveniently highlighted Secure Element link and ISIS goes into further detail about this Secure Element:

The Secure Element is a dedicated hardware component in your phone, used to store your Payment Cards, Loyalty Cards, selected Offers, and Wallet PIN

So what you’re sayin’ is… it works just like Google Wallet!

It’s weird how Verizon takes issue with Google Wallet integrating with the Secure Element, but when their own backed mobile payment service ISIS does it, well… that’s okay.

• ViaDroid-Life