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Tag: mobile wallet

  • Isis Mobile Wallet App is Available – For a Few

    Isis Mobile Wallet App is Available – For a Few

    Isis, the mobile wallet technology that AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have sunk millions of dollars into over the past year was delayed past its originally planned launch. This week, the service has finally launched – sort of.

    According to a Mobileburn report, the service is only available to a very specific few mobile subscribers. First, the app is only available to T-Mobile customers who have a Samsung Galaxy S III or Galaxy Relay 4G. Second, the app requires a special SIM card and the device must not be rooted. Of the subscribers who meet all of that criteria, only those living in Salt Lake City, Utah or Austin, Texas can get the app. These are the two cities in the Isis pilot program.

    The Isis mobile app is AT&T’s, Verizon’s, and T-Mobile’s answer to Google Wallet and PayPal mobile payments. The service will allow users to complete purchases at participating retailers using their smartphone.

    Though the iPhone 5 did not include NFC capabilities as expected, the mobile payment investments were already in place and multiple services (including one backed by Walmart and Target) will debut over the next year. T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom has been leading the push for mobile payment investment in Europe.

  • PayPal and Coinstar: A Stellar Payment Relationship

    PayPal and Coinstar: A Stellar Payment Relationship

    Dan Schatt, Head of Financial Innovations at PayPal wants to let consumers know they are “thinking outside the phone”. It sounds kind of corny, but what he’s actually referring to is payment innovations beyond just what benefits smartphone users. Come on folks, only half of mobile subscribers even have a smartphone so it makes sense not to box yourself into the mobile payment movement just yet.

    PayPal has been trying out a partnership with Coinstar in the Dallas, Texas area. I know it seems like an unlikely pair, but in reality it makes a lot of cents (sorry, my own corny humor). If you’ve ever used Coinstar to count your loose change you know that you can forego some of the fees involved if you transform your return into some variety of gift card. If I remember correctly some of the options include Starbucks and Amazon.Com.

    Presently, if you live in the Dallas area, you can add your coins to your PayPal account or request funds from your account using the Coinstar kiosk. I think this is a fantastic idea, it brings together two unique services that are already innovative in their own right (Coinstar and PayPal). The downside is it can only happen in Dallas right now, but I’ll bet we can expect an expansion on that as 2012 unfolds. We will keep you updated.

  • First Look at Isis Mobile Wallet

    First Look at Isis Mobile Wallet

    We are getting our first glimpse of Isis, the mobile wallet app that will be available to more than 100 million United State Credit Card holders this summer. The new app will compete with Google Wallet and Opera, offering a secure and convenient way to pay with your credit card on your mobile phone.

    The UI looks simple enough, with a list of your current payment options (Chase, Capitol One, and Barclay were the first to sign up for the service). Along the bottom we have “Isis Feed” (most likely a payment history page), “Directory” (a list of shopping outlets that will accept the Isis payment system), and “More” (settings).

    The NFC-based mobile payment system was created by Verizon, T-mobile and AT&T to try and make mobile payments a common practice.

    Verizon came under fire late last year when it was discovered that Google Wallet was not supported on their version of the Galaxy Nexus phone. Critics claimed it was intentionally blocked to prevent customers from using Verizon’s soon-to-be competitor.

    Isis will go live this summer, starting in Salt Lake City, UT and Austin, TX as a test run, then nationwide access soon after.