It’s been less than five years since American carriers AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile joined forces to create SoftCard, an NFC-based mobile payments system, but the partnership is today expanding to include a huge name in the mobile space: Google.
Google announced over on its commerce blog that it is working with the trio of wireless carriers to boost the distribution of tap-to-pay technology among Android users. Any Android phone running KitKat or higher and sold by AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile will soon come with Google’s own mobile payments app, Google Wallet, pre-installed.
More interesting is the fact that Google is also acquiring “exciting technology and intellectual property ” from Softcard to improve Wallet. Official details on what this might include are thin on the ground. Google doesn’t talk specifics and Softcard’s blog post isn’t much help, either.
What’s interesting is that the announcement from Softcard seems to imply that it is winding down its own customer-facing efforts. Though the company heralds today’s deal as “a positive step forward” for the mobile payments industry, it also hints that official Softcard app isn’t long for this world.
“For now, Softcard customers can continue to tap and pay with the app,” the post reads. “We will share more information with customers and partners in the coming weeks.”
Indeed, the fact that this partnership seems to be limited to a technology grab for Google and an agreement to deploy Google Wallet on every T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T phone sold in the future suggests Softcard isn’t really getting much out of this deal.
Also powered by NFC, Google Wallet launched in the fall of 2011 and allows users to store their credit, debit and loyalty cards in a virtual wallet on their phone. Their phone can then be used to tap-and-pay at supporting retailers, eliminating the need to carry a real wallet or purse. Google Wallet is currently U.S.-only.
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
