M-wallet: Isis Launched

• After having been delayed for months, Isis has finally unveiled its launch date. The m-wallet is to be tested starting 22nd October in Salt Lake City and Austin, as planned.

• According to the Joint Venture, about twenty Isis compatible NFC mobile phones will have been put to market by the end of the year. For now, subscribers are to be equipped with dedicated SIM cards and may opt for one of the already available devices (Galaxy S III, S II or Galaxy S Relay 4G).

• Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile have built bridges with several partners (retailers, gas stations, transportation networks, etc.), all equipped with appropriate acceptance devices.

• An exclusive promotional offer is also featured: an ISIS cash bonus up to 25 dollars for 10 dollars reload and 15 dollars more if the user opts for a top-up account rather than a simple prepaid one.

Source: NFC World

• Unlike other initiatives praised by manufacturers and developers (like Google or Square), Isis does not have to gain carriers’ support, as the partaking mobile operators would mutualise their networks to provide for its development.

• Also (not surprisingly), the consortium is going for a SIM-centric model rather than central servers for data storage. As the JV had trouble gaining merchants’ confidence, their number of partner locations did not reach the critical mass in time for a summer launch but its recent partnerships with GE Energy’s Wayne and Gilbarco Veeder-Root as well as with USAT seem to have bear fruits.