This article on Tech Crunch indicates that Isis, the U.S. mobile wallet platform backed by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, is changing its name to Softcard.
‘Isis, the U.S. mobile wallet platform backed by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, is rebranding. “In a few weeks, Isis Wallet will become Softcard. It’s a different name for the same great way to pay,” the company notes on its homepage.
The move comes about two months after Isis announced that it would change its name, to distance itself from any potential association with the hardcore Islamic militant group of the same name that has been involved in a lot of gruesomely detailed deaths of U.S. and other citizens.’
Of course, this name change comes just days before the iPhone 6 announcement, which is expected to include the announcement of an NFC chip in the phone and arrangements with American Express, MasterCard and Visa for, at the minimum, enabling an iPhone wallet.
The name change comes a week before what might be even bigger news in the world of mobile payments: many expect Apple will unveil details of its own mobile payment services alongside product and other announcements. It is unclear so far whether there will be any carrier, or Softcard, tie-ins to what Apple is planning but there have been reports of involvement from other players in the payment ecosystem, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Overview by Tim Sloane, Vice President, Innovation
To read the full story, go to Tech Crunch.
