Mobile payments in a brick-and-mortar retail setting have been far longer on hype than delivery, at least in the United States. But a new coalition of rival carriers is looking to change that with Isis, a platform for mobile commerce that will be available to subscribers of AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile.
With a subscriber base of more than 200 million, Isis is tapping into the payment network of Discovery Financial Services, which will look to bring the technology to its network of more than 7 million merchant locations. Enterprise Mobile Today takes a look at the new mobile payment platform.
Three of the country’s top four wireless carriers, normally fierce rivals, have teamed up on a joint venture to develop a common nationwide framework for mobile commerce.
The new payment platform, dubbed Isis, is slated to begin rolling out in major markets over the next 18 months as principals (AT&T: T), Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile promote the service to their subscribers and scramble to sign up merchants through their financial partner.