Mikey Campbell
A report on Friday claims Google is looking to strengthen its mobile payments solution with the purchase of Softcard, an NFC-based system backed by major U.S. wireless telecoms.
Citing sources, TechCrunch reports Google has shown interest in buying mobile payments company Softcard, formerly known as ISIS, at a deeply discounted sub-$100 million price tag in what could be an IP grab.
A joint venture backed by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, Softcard — and its horrifying "Tappy" mascot — was created to introduce Android and Windows smartphone users to contactless retail payments. The service offers support for American Express, Chase, Wells Fargo and other large financial institutions and is currently accepted at over 200,000 merchants across the U.S., the publication said.
Despite capital infusions totaling "hundreds of millions of dollars," Softcard has yet to catch on with consumers and is bleeding cash. The payments company axed about 60 people from its workforce earlier this month, according to the report.
In November, Softcard CEO Michael Abbott said Apple Pay boosted interest in the general mobile payments sector, noting a marked increase in Softcard app downloads. Because the two contactless systems incorporate NFC, point of sale terminals capable of processing Apple Pay are also likely to support Softcard. Abbott said transactions spiked after Apple Pay launched in October.
Although Apple Pay and Softcard are based on the same wireless protocol, the services process transactions in completely different ways. As reported by AppleInsider, Apple Pay transactions use a tokenization method that passes generated codes between iPhone and POS terminal, ensuring sensitive credit card information is left out of the process. Softcard, on the other hand, stores credit card data on a user's SIM card and transmits those numbers to a POS terminal for processing.
While the exact reasoning behind Google's alleged deal has yet to be revealed, sources believe the Internet search giant is after Softcard's patent cache, currently numbered at more than 120. Another possibility is a play to gain access to merchants not currently served by Google Wallet.
Google and Softcard have both declined to comment on the rumor.
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26 Comments
In other news Google glass is dead as many people on here predicted
What does Google get for the $100 Million?
Google Walet is already similar to Softcard and neither use "tokenization" so may be it is for the patents.
Considering that PayPal sued Google for stealing the Google Wallet technology from them.
Google may wish to replace Google Wallet's technology with Softcard.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/27/technology/paypal-sues-google/
http://mashable.com/2011/05/27/paypal-sues-google-wallet/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-26/paypal-sues-google-over-trade-secret-theft-claims.html
[QUOTE="AppleInsider"]...Softcard, formerly known as ISIS…[/QUOTE] Little known fact, ISIS changed their name to Softcard because didn't want to be associated with the terrorist organization, but the other ISIS also changed their name to ISIL because they didn't want to associated with the US carrier's idea of a mobile payment system. [SIZE=0][color="white"]If you turn my clearly jokey comment into a FUCKING political debate I will come at you like Jack Bauer in the last hour of a long day.[/color] [/SIZE] [quote name="AppleSauce007" url="/t/184357/google-in-talks-to-purchase-apple-pay-competitor-softcard-report-says#post_2662532"]Considering that PayPal sued Google for stealing the Google Wallet technology from them. Google may wish to replace Google Wallet's technology with Softcard.[/quote] That's an interesting hypothesis. I'd like to see that idea explored (either yea or nah) some more.
Why would anyone buy Softcard for IP?
Just use the newest EMVco technology that Apple Pay uses. Then Google Wallet would be just as secure, convenient and private as Apple Pay is.
No, wait. Google could no longer mine your transactions if they switched, so it's doubtful they would. Who cares about customer security and privacy?
If Google does acquire Softcard I can already see the headlines. "ApplePay threatened by Google's new payment system running on at least a billion Android devices. ApplePay is in deep trouble." Anything that Google does with Android is always considered a threat to Apple's iOS. Never the other way around.