Softcard

JVL Ventures, LLC d/b/a Softcard (formerly Isis Mobile Wallet), was a joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon which produced a mobile payments platform known as Softcard, which used near-field communication (NFC) technology to allow users to pay for items at stores and restaurants with credit and debit card credentials stored on their smartphones. The partnership was first announced on November 16, 2010; following a trial period in 2012, the service officially launched nationwide on November 14, 2013. The official Softcard app was available for NFC-compatible smartphones using the Android operating system and later on Windows Phone 8.1.

This article is about the mobile payment system. For the Microsoft plug-in card, see Z-80 SoftCard.

JVL Ventures, LLC
Softcard
FormerlyIsis Wallet
TypePrivate
IndustryMobile Commerce
FateAssets acquired by Google
SuccessorsGoogle Wallet
Android Pay
FoundedNovember 16, 2010 (2010-11-16) in New York City, New York
FounderAT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless
DefunctMarch 31, 2015 (2015-03-31)
Headquarters
New York City, New York
,
United States
Area served
United States, Worldwide
Key people
Michael Abbott (CEO)
ServicesMobile commerce
OwnerGoogle
Websitegosoftcard.com

On February 23, 2015, it was announced that Google—which had developed a competing system known as Google Wallet, backed by Sprint and MetroPCS—had acquired certain assets and intellectual property from Softcard. The Softcard service was discontinued on March 31, 2015, and the three founding carriers pledged support for Google Wallet. In May 2015, Google unveiled Android Pay as a successor to Google Wallet and Softcard.

History

In November 2010, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon officially announced a joint venture known as Isis, which planned to develop a near-field communications-based mobile payments platform. The venture also announced partnerships with Discover Financial for access to its point-of-service network, and Barclaycard as a card issuer. The company stated that it planned to "introduce its service in key geographic markets during the next 18 months".[1][2] The three carriers announced plans to invest more than $100 million in the project.[3]

The service originally planned to operate as a payment system that would handle its own transactions, but citing rapidly developing competition, Isis changed its model to integrate with existing credit cards and payment networks.[4][5] On July 19, 2011, Isis announced that American Express, MasterCard, and Visa would additionally back the platform. Isis planned to launch a trial program in Salt Lake City and Austin in early to mid 2012.[6][7][8]

In September 2011, Isis announced that HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola Mobility, Samsung Electronics, Research in Motion, and Sony Ericsson had committed to manufacturing smartphones that would be compatible with the system. It also announced a partnership with DeviceFidelity to manufacture NFC-enabling accessories for other devices so that they could support Isis.[9] In February 2012, Isis announced Barclaycard, Capital One, and Chase as launch bank partners for the service.[8]

Isis soft-launched in Austin and Salt Lake City on October 22, 2012,[10] and launched nationwide on November 14, 2013.[11]

In September 2014, the service was renamed "Softcard", as the name "Isis" had gained negative connotations due to its association with the terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, IS), which had previously referred to itself as the "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham"—a name commonly abbreviated as "ISIS".[12]

Google acquisition, discontinuation

On February 23, 2015, Google announced that it would acquire certain assets and intellectual property from Softcard, and integrate it into its own service, Google Wallet. At the same time, it was announced that AT&T, T-Mobile US, and Verizon would begin to back Google Wallet, and bundle its app with their compatible devices later in the year, in place of Softcard. The partnership aimed to build a stronger competitor to the competing mobile payment platform Apple Pay, which was introduced alongside the launch of the iPhone 6 in late 2014, and experienced heavier adoption than other competing services due to Apple's position in the market.[13][14][15] Softcard CEO Michael Abbott had previously indicated that the company was "actively working" with Apple to integrate its service with the device.[16] Google Wallet was also backed by Sprint and MetroPCS.[17]

All three carriers had previously worked together in a standard setting environment without including Google Wallet; Verizon refused to allow its devices to access the service because it requires access to the "secure element" of a smartphone, despite Softcard having the same requirement.[18][19][20]

The Softcard service and apps ceased to function on March 31, 2015.[21] Softcard customer data was not migrated to Google Wallet, and the service does not support Windows Phone.[22] At Google's I/O developers' conference that May, the company unveiled a replacement for both services known as Android Pay.[23]

Technologies

Softcard uses several underlying technologies:

References
  1. "Can a Carrier Consortium Make Mobile Payments Work?". Gigaom. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  2. "AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon announce Isis national mobile commerce network". Engadget. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  3. Olga, Kharif. "AT&T-Verizon-T Mobile Sets $100 Million for Google Fight: Tech". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  4. "Carriers Downsize Isis Plans, Reach Out to Credit Card Companies". Gigaom. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  5. "Pay-by-Phone Dialed Back". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. Hachman, Mark (July 19, 2011). "Isis Carrier Venture Signs Payment Deals with Visa, MasterCard, Others". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  7. "Credit card companies sign-up & back operator NFC platform". Gigaom. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. "NFC payment network ISIS gets its first banking partners — Chase, Capital One, and Barclaycard". The Verge. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  9. "Handset makers line up behind Isis NFC payment platform". Gigaom. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  10. "Isis Mobile Wallet Launches in Austin, Salt Lake City". PC World. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  11. "Isis Mobile Wallet goes live nationwide, offers freebies". CNET. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  12. "Isis Wallet becomes Softcard to avoid confusion with militant group". CNET. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  13. Worland, Justin (October 28, 2014). "Apple Pay Registers 1 Million Credit Cards in 3 Days". Time. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  14. "Google Wallet will soon come pre-installed on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Android phones". The Verge. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  15. "Google Wallet, Softcard partner to take on Apple Pay". CNET. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  16. "Apple's New Product Storm Threatens Long List of Companies". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  17. "Google Wallet expands, now available on MetroPCS". The Verge. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  18. "Verizon won't offer Google Wallet for the Galaxy Nexus because it uses a 'secure element'". The Verge. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  19. "Verizon's Isis Mobile Wallet app can use a phone's secure element, but Google Wallet can't". The Verge. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  20. "New Google Wallet App Moves Past NFC and to All Major Carriers. iPhone Version on Tap?". All Things D. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  21. "Softcard is shutting down on March 31st, and Google Wallet will replace it". The Verge. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  22. "Google deal means game over for mobile payments firm Softcard". The Register. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  23. "Google introduces Android Pay, a replacement for its wallet app on mobile". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  24. Clark, Sarah (August 4, 2011). "Isis picks C-Sam to supply NFC mobile wallet technology". NFC World. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  25. Clark, Sarah (December 12, 2011). "Isis picks Gemalto for NFC mobile commerce platform". NFC World. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
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