The joint venture from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T has now finally launched throughout the U.S.
The approach of the Isis mobile payments wallet launch was first reported by Mobile Commerce Press from the Money2020 event, and now the day has finally come in which the service has rolled out across the United States so that users will be able to use their devices to pay for their purchases.
Now the market is wondering whether or not Isis will be any more successful than its many competitors.
Although there are around 40 handsets that are considered to be compatible with Isis mobile payments, they still represent a considerable minority of the devices currently owned by Americans. This has generated significant skepticism as to whether or not the carrier backed venture will have any more luck than its primary competition, Google Wallets, which remains primary little known and little used.
Furthermore, there are many other barriers to adoption presented by this mobile payments method.
Even among consumers who do have the right type of smartphones – which are exclusively Android based and require specific types of technology – using this mobile payments system isn’t merely a matter of obtaining the wallet app. Though an app is required from the Play Store in order to use the service, there is also a physical update that must be made to the device before purchases can be made.
In order to use the “contactless” mobile payments from Isis, the smartphone user with the right kind of Android device will need to head to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon Wireless in order to obtain an “enhanced” SIM card in order to improve the security on the device so that it will be possible to safely use the service. Once that card has been activated, then credit and debit cards can be added to the digital wallet, and the consumer can find retailers, restaurants, and other locations which accept this form of transaction.
The number of shoppers across the United States who will actually choose to make this effort to select Isis mobile payments over others – or traditional card and cash-based methods – has yet to be seen.
Isis platform prepares for launch this month
There is a lot of attention surrounding mobile commerce and the various platforms that are becoming available to consumers, allowing them to participate in the burgeoning industry. Consumers have proven themselves to be keenly interested in the concept of using their mobile devices to make payments for goods and services, thus boosting the demand for mobile commerce platforms. Google has already launched its own platform, successfully attracting consumers from around the world. The company will soon face its most significant competition in the industry, however, as the Isis platform prepares for launch later this month.
Challenges facing platform may have been overcome
Isis is a mobile commerce platform and joint venture from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. The platform is much like other of its kind; it is able to facilitate mobile transactions using NFC technology. Unlike other platforms, however, Isis has managed to acquire the support of most of the world’s major credit and financial institutions. Despite this support, the launch of Isis has been delayed several times in the past, largely due to concerns regarding security and the viability of the features it offers.
October 22 marks beginning of aggressive promotional campaign
Isis is currently conducting trials of its platform in New Jersey and international markets, and believes that the time is quickly approaching for an official launch. As such, Isis has announced that it will launch to the commercial market on October 22 of this year. That day will mark the beginning of a near-month long promotional campaign in which consumers can purchase certain NFC-enabled mobile devices at a significant discount and receive a Visa pre-paid card that will be used with the platform.
Isis may be able to beat out Google in mobile commerce industry
Isis is poised to be the most significant competition that Google and other companies invested in mobile commerce will face. Backed by the support of a multitude of financial and credit organizations, the platform has already established a strong attraction with consumers. Moreover, Isis has been working hard over the past several months to educate consumers on how to use the platform to conduct mobile payments, something that other companies have not done.
