Isis, the mobile payment joint venture supported by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, will launch in the next few weeks.
So far, Isis had only committed to launching during the fourth quarter of the year. Isis will first be available to modern Android smartphones that include NFC (near-field communications). NFC is needed in order to make tap-and-go payments at participating retailers. Isis plans to support the iPhone with an NFC-equipped sleeve that will be available in the coming months. Isis didn’t say how much the sleeve will cost. At launch, Isis said consumers will be able to make contactless payments at 1.3 million retail locations around the country, including those operated by 24 of the top 100 merchants.
Isis recently demonstrated the latest version of the Isis mobile payment app, and said that it will have marketing support from its carrier partners as well as American Express and Chase, the only two credit cards companies still backing the venture. Isis will be paid by American Express and Chase every time a customer adds their card to the app.
The app will also support customer loyalty programs, but only those run by merchants who’ve joined Isis. Isis has been in development for years and underwent extensive trials in Austin and Salt Lake City.
