US venture Isis has gone “nationwide” with its long-awaited NFC-based mobile payments service but information on the launch was short on detail and lacked any real indication of the scale of the rollout.
The venture, which is backed by AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile US, announced the latest version of its Android app was now in the Google Play store (there was no update on when Isis will make an iPhone ‘case’ available, enabling Apple users to access the service).
The redesigned wallet app has a simpler UI and a toolbar that is easier to navigate. It enables users to pay using their NFC smartphone by storing virtual versions of their credit or prepaid cards, as well as coupons and merchant loyalty cards.
Isis said consumers can use the wallet at retailers which accept contactless payments, such as Toys “R” Us, Jamba Juice and Coca Cola, as well as taking advantage of “hundreds of dollars’ worth of money-saving deals” with full details available in the wallet.
No headline-grabbing number of merchants supporting the initiative today was highlighted. Instead, Isis noted in a press release that “Aite Group projects that hundreds of thousands of locations in the U.S. will have contactless-ready payment terminals by year end, making it the most broadly deployed mobile payments technology at the point of sale.”
The venture gave three examples of offers, including My Coke Rewards which offers users their first three drinks for free.
Or another offer for 20 per cent back on purchases made via a user’s American Express Serve account up to $200 in statement credits. The offer runs until end-January 2014.
The venture also restated an offer to give away one million free smoothies with Jamba Juice that was originally made at last month’s NFC & Mobile Money Summit in New York.
In addition to downloading the wallet app, users also need a free NFC SIM which will work with more than 40 smartphones available from the three operators.
Acknowledging that consumer education is key to the success of Isis, a statement from the initative added that “customers who visit a carrier retail store to activate the Isis Mobile Wallet will receive hands-on support and education from store associates.”
Back in October, Isis told the NFC & Mobile Money Summit 2013 that its launch was “just a few weeks” away and has now followed up on that promise. For further details on its plans check out this exclusive video interview.
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