Google Opens Wallet To All Cards, Adds Remote Lock

You are mistaken. Android phones are NOT made by Google. Only the base Android OS is made by Google, which is then licensed out to OEMs to produce phones, which are then sold to (and often rebranded or even rebuilt for) specific carriers. Both the manufacturers and the carriers are able to modify and add to the base operating system (because its open source). It also unfortunately means they can take away features as well (Verizon seems particularly keen on this). Technically not even the Nexus line is made by Google, though they license the Nexus name with the provision that the device run on stock Android. How Verizon still manages to screw things up on stock is beyond me, but I've heard nothing but grief from Vzn G-Nexus owners.

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