Is Google Buying Softcard?

No fewer than three articles popped up late Friday on my usual set of websites exploring the possibility of Google buying the carrier payments solution Softcard.  I don't know who broke it first though the CNet article lists TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal.

Here are the three I found with the best first:

http://www.cnet.com/news/google-reportedly-in-talks-to-buy-mobile-payments-company-softcard/

http://www.digitaltransactions.net/news/story/With-a-Wary-Eye-on-Apple-Pay_-Google-Reported-to-Be-in-Talks-to-Buy-Softcard

http://www.paymentssource.com/news/emerging-payments/google-makes-a-play-for-softcard-techcrunch-3020355-1.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Google may be stocking its war chest to compete with Apple in mobile payments.

The Internet giant is reportedly in talks to acquire Softcard, a company that helps people to pay for things using their mobile devices, according to reports by TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal. The deal for the payments company -- a joint venture between carriers AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile -- is said to be for less than $100 million.

Both Google and Softcard declined to comment on the possible sale. "We don't have a comment, background, deep background, off-the-record steer, nod, wink or any other verbal or nonverbal response to these sorts of rumors," a Google spokesperson said.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Softcard News and Omnichannel for Grocery

A couple of other news items are worth looking at today.

First is news of the mobile payment company Softcard cutting its staff through layoffs.  This may not be especially meaningful as they appear to have a large number of Full Time Employees, but with all the poor news they had in 2014 it also might be an indication of more to come.

http://www.digitaltransactions.net/news/story/Hard-Times-at-Softcard_-Mobile-Payments-Venture-Lays-Off-60-Employees

Next is a bit of news on a new omnichannel offering for grocery.  Pretty interesting capabilities.

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/departments/technology/new-platform-aims-boost-grocer%E2%80%99s-omnichannel-presence

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Mobile Payments News

Several stories worth taking a look at today.

First, this writer captured his experiences using Apple Pay at Walgreens.  He was required to sign for the payment even after providing biometric proof through Touch ID.  Why?  The transaction was greater than $50.  We still have a ways to go folks.  Here is that story:

http://www.pymnts.com/news/2014/why-did-you-do-this-walgreens/#.VFzDtzTF_9Z

Next is a piece on Starbucks currently holding 90% of all mobile payments in the United States:

http://www.paymentssource.com/news/emerging-payments/starbucks-had-90-of-us-mobile-pay-share-is-just-getting-started-3019582-1.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Starbucks Corp., which now handles 16% of its U.S. sales through its mobile app, revealed today just how dominant its position has become even as it plots new features such as preordering.

In 2013, $1.3 billion in payments were made over mobile devices throughout the U.S., and over 90% of those purchases took place in Starbucks stores, said Howard Schultz, the Seattle company's chief executive, in an Oct. 31 conference call to discuss the company's fourth-quarter and full-year earnings (its fiscal year ended Sept. 28).

Today, Starbucks handles nearly seven million mobile payments per week. "No company and no retail store, domestically or internationally, even comes close," Schultz said. "The real growth is yet to come."

Finally

http://www.internetretailer.com/2014/11/06/apple-pay-puts-mobile-payments-firmly-retail-agenda

Here is a snippet from that piece:

At the Money 20/20 conference this week, speakers, exhibitors and attendees agreed: Thanks to Apple, retailers and financial institutions have to think seriously about mobile payments. The next step is to give consumers a reason to change the way they pay.

...

"Apple Pay eliminates any excuse among all players in the mobile payments ecosystem to jump in," Johnson [from Softcard] says. "But payments are just table stakes. We'll be spending 2015 building out loyalty, special offers and other mobile wallet components."

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Subway sides with Softcard (ISIS)

Pretty big news in the world of mobile payments as the on life support company known as Softcard, previously branded as ISIS until that organization in the Middle East began making so much noise, has landed Subway for mobile payments.

http://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/news/subway-goes-with-softcard-for-mobile-payments-platform/

A very good analysis over on Mobile Commerce that matches my own thinking:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/apple-pays-halo-effect-evident-in-subway-softcard-partnership

Here is a snippet from that piece:

The excitement around Apple Pay is helping to shine a new light on NFC-enabled mobile payments solution Softcard – previously known as Isis – which had been languishing, as evidenced by a new deal to support mobile payments and loyalty at Subway.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant