Softcard mobile payments get an end date; enjoy NFC on Windows Phone while you can

Last month we learned about Google’s plans for a big expansion of Wallet, joining forces with the carriers behind Softcard (née ISIS). And while that’s good news for Google, Wallet, and arguably Android mobile payments in general, it hasn’t been such a promising turn of events for everyone involved. As a result of this new partnership, Softcard as we know it is shutting down, and while its Android users are welcome to transition over to Google Wallet, there’s also been a Windows Phone version of Softcard, and that’s also being shuttered. This week we finally learn the date on which the service will go dark, as plans are revealed to end things on March 31.

While Windows Phone users abroad have their own mobile payment solutions, and Microsoft’s likely to come through with something of its own eventually (even if that means waiting until Windows 10), Softcard’s the only option currently available for WP in the States. Once Softcard kills its app at the end of the month, users of the platform in the US will be without an NFC-based mobile payment service for at least the next few months.

We know, that’s hardly the end of the world, and we can’t imagine Softcard on Windows Phone had a gigantic user base to begin with, but we’ll still be sad to see the platform left with one fewer service than the other major players.

Source: Softcard
Via: Droid Life

Pocketnow has been here since 2000. All these years we have had one mission: to offer timely, quality, and unbiased content; to create value, educate, and bridge the gap between people and technology. All these years we have never put up a paywall, and we never will. Our content always was, and always will be free. The revenue we earn comes from Ads, but with the decline in Ad Revenue we increasingly need our readers to fund us. If everyone who reads and enjoys our content helps fund and support it, our future will be much more secure.

I want to support Pocketnow

Share This Post

likethis

What's your reaction?

Love It

Like It

Want It

Had It

50%

Hated It

50%

Posted In

Tags

Google, Isis, News, Softcard, Windows Phone 8.1

About The Author

Stephen Schenck

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bits Read more about Stephen Schenck!