JVL Ventures

2015-12-25T05:50:52Z

Samdir1:

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{About|the mobile payment system|the Microsoft plug-in card|Z-80 SoftCard}}
{{Infobox company
| name = JVL Ventures, LLC
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| trading_name = Softcard
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| former_name = Isis Wallet
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
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| industry = [[Mobile commerce service provider|Mobile Commerce]]
| genre = 
| fate = Assets acquired by [[Google]]
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| successor = 
| foundation = {{start date|2010|11|16}} in [[New York City]], [[New York]] 
| founders = [[AT&T Mobility]], [[T-Mobile USA]] and [[Verizon Wireless]] 
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[New York City]], [[New York]]
| location_country = United States
| coordinates =
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| area_served = [[United States]], Worldwide
| key_people = Michael Abbott ([[CEO]])
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| services = Mobile Commerace and Payments
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| website = [https://www.gosoftcard.com/ gosoftcard.com] 
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}}

'''JVL Ventures, LLC''' [[d/b/a]] '''Softcard''' formerly '''Isis Mobile Wallet''', was a joint venture between [[AT&T Mobility|AT&T]], [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]] and [[Verizon Wireless|Verizon]] which produced a [[mobile payment]]s platform known as ''Softcard'', which used [[near-field communication]] (NFC) technology to allow users to pay for items at stores and restaurants with [[credit card|credit]] and [[debit card]] credentials stored on their [[smartphone]]s. The partnership was first announced on November 16, 2010; following a trial period in 2012, the service officially launched nationwide on November 14, 2013. The official Softcard [[mobile app|app]] was available for NFC-compatible smartphones using the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] operating system and later on [[Windows Phone 8.1]].

On February 23, 2015, it was announced that [[Google Inc.]] would acquire Softcard's intellectual property and integrate it into its competing [[Google Wallet]] service. As a result, the Softcard service was permanently discontinued on March 31, 2015, and Softcard's member carriers have begun backing the newly created [[Android Pay]] system instead.

== History ==
In November 2010, [[AT&T Mobility|AT&T]]. [[T-Mobile US]]A and [[Verizon Wireless|Verizon]] officially announced a joint venture known as Isis, which planned to develop a [[near-field communication]]s-based [[mobile payments]] platform. The venture also announced partnerships with [[Discover Financial]] for access to its [[point-of-service]] network, and [[Barclaycard]] as a card issuer. The company stated that it planned to "introduce its service in key geographic markets during the next 18 months".<ref name=gigaom-isisannounce>{{cite web |title=Can a Carrier Consortium Make Mobile Payments Work? |url=https://gigaom.com/2010/11/16/can-isis-bring-nfc-payments-to-life/ |website=Gigaom |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=engadget-announce>{{cite web |title=AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon announce Isis national mobile commerce network |url=http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/atandt-t-mobile-and-verizon-announce-isis-national-mobile-commer/ |website=Engadget |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref> The three carriers announced plans to invest more than $100 million in the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-29/at-t-verizon-t-mobile-sets-100-million-for-google-fight-tech.html |title=AT&T-Verizon-T Mobile Sets $100 Million for Google Fight: Tech |publisher=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |first=Kharif |last=Olga |date= |accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref>

The service originally planned to operate as a [[payment system]] that would handle its own transactions, but citing rapidly developing competition, Isis changed its model to integrate with existing credit cards and payment networks.<ref name=gigaom-scaledback>{{cite web |title=Carriers Downsize Isis Plans, Reach Out to Credit Card Companies |url=https://gigaom.com/2011/05/04/carriers-downsize-isis-plans-reach-out-to-credit-card-companies/ |website=Gigaom |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=wsj-scaledback>{{cite news |title=Pay-by-Phone Dialed Back |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704740604576301482470575092 |accessdate=February 23, 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> On July 19, 2011, Isis announced that [[American Express]], [[Mastercard]], and [[Visa Inc.|Visa]] would additionally back the platform. Isis planned to launch a trial program in [[Salt Lake City]] and [[Austin]] in early to mid 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388712,00.asp |title=Isis Carrier Venture Signs Payment Deals with Visa, Mastercard, Others |publisher=[[PC Magazine]] |first=Mark |last=Hachman |date=July 19, 2011 |accessdate=July 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name=gigaom-partners>{{cite web |title=Credit card companies sign-up & back operator NFC platform |url=https://gigaom.com/2011/07/19/isis-recruits-credit-card-companies-for-mobile-payment-push/ |website=Gigaom |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=verge-isisbanks />

In September 2011, Isis announced that [[HTC]], [[LG Electronics]], [[Motorola Mobility]], [[Samsung Electronics]], [[Research in Motion]], and [[Sony Ericsson]] had committed to manufacturing smartphones that would be compatible with the system. It also announced a partnership with DeviceFidelity to manufacture NFC-enabling accessories for other devices so that they could support Isis.<ref name=gigaom-oemsupport>{{cite web |title=Handset makers line up behind Isis NFC payment platform |url=https://gigaom.com/2011/09/27/handset-makers-line-up-behind-isis-nfc-payment-platform/ |website=Gigaom |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref> In February 2012, Isis announced [[Barclaycard]], [[Capital One]], and [[Chase (bank)|Chase]] as launch bank partners for the service.<ref name=verge-isisbanks>{{cite web |title=NFC payment network ISIS gets its first banking partners — Chase, Capital One, and Barclaycard |url=http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/28/2829912/isis-nfc-chase-capital-one-barclay-bank-partners |website=The Verge |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

Isis soft-launched in Austin and Salt Lake City on October 22, 2012,<ref name=pcw-launch>{{cite web |title=Isis Mobile Wallet Launches in Austin, Salt Lake City |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411247,00.asp |website=PC World |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref> and launched nationwide on November 14, 2013.<ref name=cnet-isislaunch>{{cite web |title=Isis Mobile Wallet goes live nationwide, offers freebies |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/isis-mobile-wallet-goes-live-nationwide-offers-freebies/ |website=CNET |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2014 Isis changed its name to Softcard to end confusion that an active [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|terrorist]] group was a major player in the mobile payment race.<ref name=cnet-newname>{{cite web |title=Isis Wallet becomes Softcard to avoid confusion with militant group |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/isis-wallet-becomes-softcard-to-avoid-confusion-with-militant-group/ |website=CNET |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

=== Google acquisition, discontinuation ===
On February 23, 2015, [[Google]] announced that it would acquire certain assets and intellectual property from Softcard, and integrate it into Google Wallet. At the same time, it was announced that AT&T, T-Mobile US, and Verizon would begin to back Google Wallet, and bundle its app with their compatible devices later in the year, in place of Softcard. The partnership aims to build a stronger competitor to the competing mobile payment platform [[ApplePay]], which was introduced alongside the launch of the [[iPhone 6]] in late 2014, and has experienced heavier adoption than other competing services due to [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s position in the market.<ref name="Time adoption rate 1">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/3543263/apple-pay-1-million |title=Apple Pay Registers 1 Million Credit Cards in 3 Days |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |first=Justin |last=Worland |date=October 28, 2014 |accessdate=October 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name=verge-googleacquired>{{cite web |title=Google Wallet will soon come pre-installed on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Android phones |url=http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/23/8091407/google-wallet-softcard-partnership |website=The Verge |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=cnet-googlesoftcard>{{cite web |title=Google Wallet, Softcard partner to take on Apple Pay |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/google-wallet-softcard-partner-on-mobile-payments/ |website=CNET |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref> Softcard CEO Michael Abbott had previously indicated that the company was "actively working" with Apple to integrate its service with the device.<ref name=bloomberg-uproot>{{cite web |title=Apple's New Product Storm Threatens Long List of Companies |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-10/apple-s-new-product-storm-may-uproot-long-list-of-companies.html |website=Bloomberg |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref> Google Wallet is also backed by [[Sprint Corporation|Sprint]] and [[MetroPCS]].<ref name=verge-walletmetropcs>{{cite web |title=Google Wallet expands, now available on MetroPCS |url=http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/22/3540044/google-wallet-expands-metro-pcs |website=The Verge |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Ironically, all three carriers had previously [[collusion|colluded]] against Google Wallet in order to protect Isis; Verizon refused to allow its devices to access the service because it requires access to the "secure element" of a smartphone, despite Isis needing so too.<ref name=verge-secureelement>{{cite web |title=Verizon won't offer Google Wallet for the Galaxy Nexus because it uses a 'secure element' |url=http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/10/3751538/verizon-google-wallet-galaxy-nexus-secure-element |website=The Verge |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=verge-isissecureelement>{{cite web |title=Verizon's Isis Mobile Wallet app can use a phone's secure element, but Google Wallet can't |url=http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/19/3785538/verizon-isis-app-secure-element |website=The Verge |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name=thingsd-googlewallet>{{cite web |title=New Google Wallet App Moves Past NFC and to All Major Carriers. iPhone Version on Tap? |url=http://allthingsd.com/20130917/with-ios-version-on-tap-new-google-wallet-for-android-moves-past-nfc/ |website=All Things D |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

The Softcard service and apps ceased to function on March 31, 2015.<ref name=verge-shutdown>{{cite web |title=Softcard is shutting down on March 31st, and Google Wallet will replace it |url=http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/5/8152801/softcard-shutting-down-march-31 |website=The Verge |accessdate=March 5, 2015}}</ref> Softcard customer data will not be migrated to Google Wallet. The discontinuation of Softcard will also cause a regression in mobile payment functionality for [[Windows Phone]] users, as Google Wallet does not support the platform.<ref name=reg-googlesoftcard>{{cite web |title=Google deal means game over for mobile payments firm Softcard |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/25/softcard_shutdown/ |website=The Register |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

==Technologies==
Softcard uses several underlying technologies:
* [http://www.c-sam.com/ C-SAM] mobile wallet platform<ref name="NFCW C-SAM 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfcworld.com/2011/08/04/38923/isis-picks-c-sam-to-supply-nfc-mobile-wallet-technology |title=Isis picks C-Sam to supply NFC mobile wallet technology |publisher=[[NFC World]] |first=Sarah |last=Clark |date=August 4, 2011 |accessdate=August 1, 2012}}</ref>
* [http://www.gemalto.com/ Gemalto] mobile commerce platform<ref name="NFCW Gemalto 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfcworld.com/2011/12/12/311890/isis-picks-gemalto-for-nfc-mobile-commerce-platform |title=Isis picks Gemalto for NFC mobile commerce platform |publisher=[[NFC World]] |first=Sarah |last=Clark |date=December 12, 2011 |accessdate=August 1, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://www.gosoftcard.com/}}

[[Category:Google acquisitions]]
[[Category:Mobile payments]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

JVL Ventures