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.
On February 23, 2015, it was announced that Google Inc. would acquire Softcard's intellectual property and integrate it into its competing Google Wallet service. As a result, the Softcard service was permanently discontinued on March 31, 2015, and Softcard's member carriers have begun backing the newly created Android Pay system instead.
History
In November 2010, AT&T. T-Mobile USA 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". The three carriers announced plans to invest more than $100 million in the project.
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. 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.
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. In February 2012, Isis announced Barclaycard, Capital One, and Chase as launch bank partners for the service.
Isis soft-launched in Austin and Salt Lake City on October 22, 2012, and launched nationwide on November 14, 2013.
In September 2014 Isis changed its name to Softcard to end confusion that an active terrorist group was a major player in the mobile payment race.
Google acquisition, discontinuation
On February 23, 2015, Google announced that it would acquire certain assets and intellectual property from Softcard, and integrate it into 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 aims to build a stronger competitor to the competing mobile payment platform ApplePay, which was introduced alongside the launch of the iPhone 6 in late 2014, and has experienced heavier adoption than other competing services due to Apple's position in the market. Softcard CEO Michael Abbott had previously indicated that the company was "actively working" with Apple to integrate its service with the device. Google Wallet is also backed by Sprint and MetroPCS.
Ironically, all three carriers had previously colluded against Google Wallet in order to protect Isis; Verizon refused to allow its devices to access the service because it requires access to the "secure element" of a smartphone, despite Isis needing so too.
The Softcard service and apps ceased to function on March 31, 2015. Softcard customer data will not be migrated to Google Wallet. The discontinuation of Softcard will also cause a regression in mobile payment functionality for Windows Phone users, as Google Wallet does not support the platform.
Joint Credit Card Application Online Video
Technologies
Softcard uses several underlying technologies:
- C-SAM mobile wallet platform
- Gemalto mobile commerce platform
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