Will Sprint eventually adopt Softcard (formally Isis Wallet) instead of just Google Wallet?

[S4GRU]

It's like the people who think your personal data and CC info is on your hotel room key. No info is on a hotel room key except the room number the key is allowed to unlock and the time/date the permission expires. That's it. That's all that is needed.

 

When the waiter takes your room key and uses it to put something on your hotel bill, they swipe the card in the computer, the computer then pulls up the room number from the card and then can access your account. Even this system is rare, but still only uses a room number and check out time. Most hotels use the honor system of just giving a room number to bill items. Personal information is not on the room key. Never has been.

 

But there are stupid paranoid people everywhere. Probably because there are scammers everywhere too.

[Fraydog]

Wait, when did Apple claim to reinvent the wheel on Apple Pay? What is different is using TouchID to verify purchases. That's not something that can easily be replicated on other devices. The secure element is in the phone as opposed to the SIM card, which is more secure as well.

 

Overall this is good for SoftCard and Google Wallet. Apple pushing NFC forward gives Google Wallet and SoftCard users more POS terminals. That's a win for everyone!

[mc_gusto]

As long as the new pos terminals aren't apple pay exclusive then I'm totally for it too. Doubling the user base means win win for everyone.

[S4GRU]

As long as the new pos terminals aren't apple pay exclusive then I'm totally for it too. Doubling the user base means win win for everyone.

They may do that. But then it would take years to get enough terminals out there for their customers. I would think they need to be able to use what's existing for any chance of their product to succeed.

[Josh]

Its interesting to see the development of the NFC payment systems, and it still will take years until it is as trusted as a visa... which there are still some people that do not trust those existing card payments.  Also, remember that as more people use these systems, hackers will find it more tempting to try and breach each of these systems.  So the security needs to keep pace ahead of those who would do harm to the systems.  

 

If a retailer wants to gain the customers that will pay with the new apple payments, it would be smart for them to deploy contact-less payments that will work with all of the existing systems.  Not because the other systems have that many users, but there are many android phones that are capable of payments, and as apple is not inventing the idea... they will make it cool, and therefore increase the entire ecosystem.  

 

Apple seems to wait until the technology is slightly matured and they can work out many of the bugs, which makes them look like they do everything better, but the other companies technologies are more matured and it is a personal opinion on what is actually better... the difference is that not only does apple bring a huge scale in the US, but the users are much more likely to adopt any new apple technology.

 

On a side note, I cannot wait until apple brings wireless charging, as it will make everyone want to have it & jumpstart support... they probably could have brought it out now, but wanted to save some things for the 's' version next year! 

[mc_gusto]

I kind of agree. Even apple users won't make nfc an overnight hit. Convenience will be it's killer app. And places where you stand in line with a cashier is not that compelling to use nfc when it's just as easy to pay with cash or a card. I'm much more inclined to use it at a gas station so I don't have to go inside or a parking meter/vending machine because I don't have change. It'll take years just like credit cards did. Credit cards have been trying to move to nfc for years and it's still not sticking. Even gas stations like Mobil Exon tried those key fobs. The only place nfc is used very regularly is those automated payments like toll collecting and buses/transit. Hopefully apple will help usher in the nfc era 2.0 but i think it'll take years still. And of course apple will take all the credit.

 

As for wireless charging. If apple doesn't go with qi and does something proprietary it'll be maddening. But that won't come for 2+ more years.

[evo bryan]

I think nfc is about to take off and I hope it is fast. I love it, I don't like how apple will take the credit but if it pushing it off I'm cool with that. As far as wireless charging I don't know if it will be in the s version but it will be soon I think.

[ahecht]

The crazy thing is that many cities like Boston and Washington DC use NFC stored-value cards on rapid transit, but the machines for adding value to the cards, which have an NFC reader, don't accept NFC payments from Google wallet or RFID-enabled credit cards.

Edited September 19, 2014 by ahecht

[mc_gusto]

The crazy thing is that many cities like Boston and Washington DC use NFC stored-value cards on rapid transit, but the machines for adding value to the cards, which have an NFC reader, don't accept NFC payments from Google wallet or RFID-enabled credit cards.

Why not cut out the middle man and just use nfc payments directly at the turnstiles and buses. Would be the same as cash. And monthly passes can be stored on the phones.

[dnwk]

The crazy thing is that many cities like Boston and Washington DC use NFC stored-value cards on rapid transit, but the machines for adding value to the cards, which have an NFC reader, don't accept NFC payments from Google wallet or RFID-enabled credit cards.

 

Boston's Transit Card is NFC and you can read it with your phone. But washington DC's metro card use different frequency. Your phone cannot read it.

[ahecht]

Why not cut out the middle man and just use nfc payments directly at the turnstiles and buses. Would be the same as cash. And monthly passes can be stored on the phones.

That's what they just started doing in London.

[ahecht]

Boston's Transit Card is NFC and you can read it with your phone. But washington DC's metro card use different frequency. Your phone cannot read it.

I just tried my metro smarttrip card from my last trip to DC and my phone read it just fine. I also found out that DC is planning to install a new system that will allow you to use NFC phones and RFID credit cards to get through the fare gates. Edited September 19, 2014 by ahecht

[mc_gusto]

That's what they just started doing in London.

That's cool, What app handles the transaction? Hope it gets more widespread. That would be an application I would literally use everyday instead of paying at a cashier.

[ahecht]

That's cool, What app handles the transaction? Hope it gets more widespread. That would be an application I would literally use everyday instead of paying at a cashier.

I think it just charges your credit card through Google Wallet, ISIS, Apple Pay, or whatever is installed on your phone.

 

And as to DC, a little digging turned up that the older $5 Smartrip cards were based on the proprietary GOCARD format, but the new $2 cards are ISO 14443 based and NFC compatible.

Edited September 19, 2014 by ahecht

[mc_gusto]

I think it just charges your credit card through Google Wallet, ISIS, Apple Pay, or whatever is installed on your phone.

 

And as to DC, a little digging turned up that the older $5 Smartrip cards were based on the proprietary GOCARD format, but the new $2 cards are ISO 14443 based and NFC compatible.

Just read about it. It's a carrier exclusive app (EE) called "cash on tap" sounds like a google wallet competitor. Like ISIS. So no apple pay and Google wallet yet on the tubes.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/contactless-card-nfc-payments-london-tube/

[Raven Null]

Hence their name change to Softcard this week.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2601980/isis-wallet-mobile-payment-service-changes-its-name-to-softcard.html

SoftBank would go perfectly with Softcard... Just saying

[S4GRU]

And Verizon went perfectly with the former name, ISIS.  Just saying.  

[dnwk]

I just tried my metro smarttrip card from my last trip to DC and my phone read it just fine. I also found out that DC is planning to install a new system that will allow you to use NFC phones and RFID credit cards to get through the fare gates.

 

Maybe they changed. I can't read my smarttip on my nexus

[ericdabbs]

SoftBank would go perfectly with Softcard... Just saying

 

That is what I have been saying.

[coorsleftfield]

I've read that softcard can be loaded with a credit card, which makes it a good option for racking up reward points.  Shame it's not available on Sprint, and it doesn't work on T-mobile pre-paid or iPhones either. 

[WiWavelength]

To answer the thread title question, no.  But we will all ultimately adopt ISIL wallet -- or pay by the bullet.

 

 

AJ

[ericdabbs]

I've read that softcard can be loaded with a credit card, which makes it a good option for racking up reward points.  Shame it's not available on Sprint, and it doesn't work on T-mobile pre-paid or iPhones either. 

 

That is a good motivation.  I use the normal Serve account now and its great but would love to sign up for the SoftServe option but sadly its not available to Sprint customers.

[ahecht]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/report-google-in-talks-to-buy-softcard-the-carriers-nfc-payment-app/

[JossMan]

To answer the thread title question, no. But we will all ultimately adopt ISIL wallet -- or pay by the bullet.

 

 

AJ

I was going post an AJ like comment regarding the title of this thread but, you beat me to it.

[ahecht]

Looks like Softcard became Android Pay, and Sprint is not a partner.