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Google Acquires Softcard Technology, Inks Deal With Carriers to Pre-Install Google Wallet on Android Devices
Following rumors of an acquisition, Google today announced that it has purchased some technology and intellectual property from NFC-based mobile payment service Softcard, formerly known as Isis Mobile Wallet. The purchase will allow Google to improve upon its existing mobile wallet technology to better compete with Apple Pay.
Owned jointly by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, Softcard was established in 2010 in an effort to allow the three carriers to enter the mobile payment market. As an NFC-based payment option that works primarily with Android-based phones, Softcard has been a major Google Wallet competitor, arguably stunting NFC mobile payment growth for both companies.
Google Wallet nearly floundered following its 2011 debut after Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile refused to support the app in favor of Softcard (then known as Isis). Google later found a way to circumvent the Google Wallet lockout, but its growth has suffered amid competition from Softcard and other payment technologies.
Today's purchase consolidates the number of payment options for Android devices and it lets Google establish a deal with the three carriers to build Google Wallet into future Android phones for the first time.
It is not clear if Google's purchase of Softcard technology means Softcard will be shutting its own payments service down entirely. According to Softcard, its existing customers can continue to use the Softcard service for the time being, and more information is forthcoming from the company.
Owned jointly by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, Softcard was established in 2010 in an effort to allow the three carriers to enter the mobile payment market. As an NFC-based payment option that works primarily with Android-based phones, Softcard has been a major Google Wallet competitor, arguably stunting NFC mobile payment growth for both companies.
Google Wallet nearly floundered following its 2011 debut after Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile refused to support the app in favor of Softcard (then known as Isis). Google later found a way to circumvent the Google Wallet lockout, but its growth has suffered amid competition from Softcard and other payment technologies.
Today's purchase consolidates the number of payment options for Android devices and it lets Google establish a deal with the three carriers to build Google Wallet into future Android phones for the first time.
So today, we're excited to announce that we're working with AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, as well as their mobile payments company Softcard, to help more Android users get the benefits of tap and pay. Under this relationship, the Google Wallet app, including the tap and pay functionality, will come pre-installed on Android phones (running KitKat or higher) sold by these carriers in the US later this year. We're also acquiring some exciting technology and intellectual property from Softcard to make Google Wallet better.The early success of Apple Pay has sparked a lot of interest in mobile payments in recent months. Along with Google's acquisition of Softcard, Samsung has recently purchased LoopPay in an effort to develop its own payments solution.
It is not clear if Google's purchase of Softcard technology means Softcard will be shutting its own payments service down entirely. According to Softcard, its existing customers can continue to use the Softcard service for the time being, and more information is forthcoming from the company.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: Softcard, Google Wallet
[ 194 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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52 months ago
I said this before: Apple Pay will change mobile payments because it forces Google to update and promote Wallet to be competitive, meaning iPhone and Android users both have a way to pay with their phone.
Before Apple Pay, no one mentioned Google Wallet in the iOS v Android debate; Apple has made it relevant.
Before Apple Pay, no one mentioned Google Wallet in the iOS v Android debate; Apple has made it relevant.
52 months ago
Buy CurrentC too. Then you can have all the hot messes under one roof. Maybe that way they can stitch together something that will compete with Apple Pay. So far nothing seems close.
52 months ago
Really sucks for Google that they have to go through carriers to get this feature to work. That is not a winning strategy.
52 months ago
People say Google Wallet competes with Apple Pay, but it doesn't really. Apple Pay offers secure, device-side tokenization , integration with biometric security, and does not share your purchase information with third parties (including Apple).
The question is when will Google start copying the important parts of Apple Pay? Or does its lack of hardware control and existence as a marketing company mean it can't?
The question is when will Google start copying the important parts of Apple Pay? Or does its lack of hardware control and existence as a marketing company mean it can't?
52 months ago
oops. article says "nearly floundered" but you mean "nearly foundered"
founder means to sink or to fail
flounder means to move awkwardly or with difficulty
-man with too much time
founder means to sink or to fail
flounder means to move awkwardly or with difficulty
-man with too much time
52 months ago
Not sure why Google is buying another payment company, when they already have their own payment options...
They just dont' use them!
come on google. You can't claim Google Wallet was a dud, If you never pushed it out or rolled it out to anyone other than Americans.... who have notoriously been terrible at upgrading their Credit Card terminals (decades behind in some places).
so, the countries around the world with NFC terminals ready for years haven't had a phone they could use them with because Google still wont release the damn thing outside of the USA
They just dont' use them!
come on google. You can't claim Google Wallet was a dud, If you never pushed it out or rolled it out to anyone other than Americans.... who have notoriously been terrible at upgrading their Credit Card terminals (decades behind in some places).
so, the countries around the world with NFC terminals ready for years haven't had a phone they could use them with because Google still wont release the damn thing outside of the USA
52 months ago
Google Acquires Softcard Technology, Inks Deal With Carriers to Pre-Install G...
It WAS a stupid gimick. You had to take out your phone, unlock, find the wallet app, launch it, maybe authenticate with another PIN layer. It was geek novelty, but ultimately useless and cards were easier
The way Apple implemented it, where the payment terminal wakes the phone into the ApplePay wallet and all you need is a mere finger touch... Is orders of magnitude improved in terms od user experience and convenience.
Don't sugarcoat it
Apple Fanboys- " it's stupid and a gimmick, Apple will never adopt it"
It WAS a stupid gimick. You had to take out your phone, unlock, find the wallet app, launch it, maybe authenticate with another PIN layer. It was geek novelty, but ultimately useless and cards were easier
The way Apple implemented it, where the payment terminal wakes the phone into the ApplePay wallet and all you need is a mere finger touch... Is orders of magnitude improved in terms od user experience and convenience.
52 months ago
I said this before: Apple Pay will change mobile payments because it forces Google to update and promote Wallet to be competitive, meaning iPhone and Android users both have a way to pay with their phone.
Before Apple Pay, no one mentioned Google Wallet in the iOS v Android debate; Apple has made it relevant.
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