Sprint has Google Wallet alternative in works, report says

Sprint is working on a mobile-payment service that could take on Google Wallet and countless other competitors in the marketplace, according to a new report.

Android Central yesterday posted two images it claims show how Sprint's mobile-payment service will work. Based on the images in the slides, the service will force users to enter a pass code to access their wallet, input information, and make payments. In addition to credit card support, the images seem to indicate that the service, called Touch Wallet, according to Android Central, will support "loyalty cards."

Android Central's report comes just a couple of days after NFC Times cited its own sources who said that Sprint would launch its mobile-payment platform as early as this summer. However, that report claims the app will only be called "Touch."

For its part, Sprint has stayed tight-lipped on its plans, but did tell NFC Times earlier this week that it's "actively working" in the mobile-payment space.

"In keeping with our open approach, Sprint is actively working with others in the mobile payment ecosystem," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to bring practical, easy-to-use mobile payment solutions to customers on Sprint devices, however, we do not have any news to share at this time."

Sprint is in desperate need of a mobile-payment solution. The carrier's competitors, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless, have all teamed up to build their own mobile-payment platform, called Isis. Google has come out in full force in the space with its Wallet application, though that service has yet to come anywhere near dominating the market. A host of other companies, including PayPal, are also actively targeting the mobile-payments space.

CNET has contacted Sprint for comment on the Android Central report. We will update this story when we have more information.