Softcard is expanding its wireless NFC enabled payment solution to Windows Phone devices as it competes against Apple's game-changing mobile payment system.
Apple may be a late comer to the mobile payment system but it has brought in greater competition in this niche category. Softcard, a joint venture between AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, is expanding its NFC enabled mobile payment system to Windows Phone devices with a new free app. This opens new opportunities for Softcard to attract users from both Android and Windows Phone.
Softcard is a mobile payment system like Apple Pay with a broader support window. Users of Softcard save their credit card info on the smartphone and simply tap their smartphones on the wireless pay pad available at several retail outlets. The new technology by U.S. wireless carriers uses near-field communication (NFC) to process payments. Additional benefits such as loyalty points and special offers at partner stores are expected to boost Softcard's popularity.
Unlike Apple Pay, which requires users to have the latest iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus to use the mobile payment system, Softcard simply works with existing phones with a special encrypted SIM card. The so called "Enhanced" SIM card is currently available for free from AT&T, but other partner carriers, Verizon and T-Mobile, are expected to offer the same soon.
Softcard CEO Michael Abbott announced the new launch of Softcard app on Windows Phone platform while speaking at the Money20/20 conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Abott touted his mobile payment solution as the sole "NFC-based mobile wallet supported on multiple mobile operating systems," ZDNet reported.
Softcard works with select Android smartphones running version 4.0 and above while the Windows Phone version of the app works with WP8.1 handsets. Available as a free download, Softcard can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Windows Phone Store.
