They may have helped. Apple was definitely working on it more than six months before it was announced. Google Wallet initially capitalized on Mastercard PayWa

They may have helped. Apple was definitely working on it more than six months before it was announced. Google Wallet initially capitalized on Mastercard PayWave (or was that Visa's?) and when the other cards wouldn't play ball they made a virtual Mastercard for use. Now that the card companies started playing ball, maybe b/c of Apple's push, Google can work with the new standards.