[Nexus 5 General] nikitis:
Okay guys, I want to start a serious discussion about Android Pay, and specifically alternatives to it.

I want to start off by saying this is just sad that we, who buy nexus phones to have options as unlockable bootloaders, and base Google nexus roms or custom roms, that Android Pay requires it's base rom, and unrooted. This is unacceptable in today's age.

I was running Cyanogenmod 12.1 Nightly, and everything worked solidly and smoothly to where I wanted it to be. Then enter Android Pay.

I couldn't add my card. I tried all of the tricks. With Cyanogenmod particularly there seems to be a check. Locking bootloader, removing root, doing both at the same time still would not work. It was also checking for the Cyanogenmod rom.

So I say, fine, I really want to test the convenience of Android Pay. So I go through the trouble of backing up all of my files. Installing a Google factory image. Rooting the rom. Adding my recovery. Locking bootloader and temporarily removing root to setup the card.

It worked. Card added. I head on over to McDonalds (I know food is bad, but I the closest place near me that has android pay.) I go to swap, and I get an error. Card cannot be used.

Seriously! WTF. I thought, maybe this card needs to be enabled for Mobile Payments. I call Wells fargo, They say it wasn't enabled but they have now enabled and it should work now.

Next day. I repeat the same thing. Same error. No mention as to why it cannot use my card, just that it cannot. All provisions have taken place to get to this point and all the trouble and sacrifice of features from a much better rom (Cyanogenmod), through all the trouble of installing a Google factory image, and this still doesn't work. I figure it must be because I'm still rooted or bootloader is unlocked again.

Well seriously, screw you Google. We shouldn't have to go through so much trouble just to use a payment system, and at the end of it all, it still will not work. And what is Google's response to this? "We cannot guarantee security on rooted devices." Really? You cannot implement proper encryption methods of card numbers? You cannot think of a way to better secure a payment system for rooted users? This is Google stating we cannot do something everyone wants. Well I'd rather not use your pay system if you are going to act like this.

We need a new mobile payment system, not run by Google. Rooted users are willingly taking the risk. Nothing is ever perfectly secure, and is always a risk involved, but it's secure enough. Make an app that unroots you temporarily while you make a transaction or something. I want mobile payment system, and I refuse to not run custom roms and not root. Find a way, or be left behind. Stop trying to drag users back to your stock / unrooted ways. We will bypass you. I've left Verizon for these same kind of restrictions on their phones.

What are your thoughts. I know already you are going to say that "It's not secure, etc." but this is not a valid excuse. There has to be a compromise between security and the ability to mobile pay conveniently. I mean guys, this really goes beyond trying to patch an apk to make it work. There's WAY too many restrictions on this, and the window too small that most users aren't able to view. If my phone gets stolen, I can always call to disable mobile payment. If it's rooted Applications trying to access your card data, find a way to block it. Encrypt transactions, encrypt card info, something. If we cannot then we cannot ever use a Mobile payment system.

Not to mention, there's a TON of money to be had by becoming the VISA of mobile payments. All it takes is a developer willing to not assume responsibility for stolen money, charge $5 for the application, or even $0.01 cents per transaction. I'd sure as hell pay it if you can make it work on rooted custom rom devices.

What would it take to make one of these? Banks would be willing to work with you on it I'm sure, they will see the value. There has to already be an API for mobile payment system. We just need an apk that can do it. Trust issues of who writes it? Just charge some per transaction, so we can sue you should you try to screw us.