In an interesting development, Google is reportedly making offers to buy Softcard, formerly ISIS. Softcard and Google are competitors at this point, vying for the burgeoning mobile payments market, along with recently released Apple Pay.
Google has their own NFC mobile payment system Google Wallet, and reportedly they’re mainly interested in the 120 patents that Softcard holds.
The deal will reportedly be for just under $100 million. Softcard is said to have been struggling recently, and may agree to such an offer. No comments from Google or Softcard.
Interestingly, there are reports that Paypal and Microsoft have also been interested in acquiring Softcard.
It’s anyone’s guess if this will have any effect on many of the recent offers that Softcard has rolled out. Let’s hope that well-financed Google will only increase them.
Last major promotion for SC was $30 in Amazon e-gift cards for swiping 15 times per card (max 5 cards). No minimum per swipe. Promo ended 12/31/14. So max $150. Got the $150 for my account awhile back. Wife just met the promo on 12/30/14. Just received her 4 card bonus of $120 last week. $270 of free Amazon money. That was one of a few excellent promos Softcard put out. So despite no further offers and possibly being acquired, they are still honoring old promos as promised.
Good to hear.
Except for the UA offer, all Softcard offers seem to have ended, and no new ones have materialized.st
Pretty standard for companies to do this when they are trying to be acquired. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Not to be negative nancy over here, but if any of these big guys buy softcard they’ll gut them for their patents and push consumers to their branded solution as quickly as possible. Only MS might leave the brand intact. Still the fight for marketshare could intensify and their could be more promotions just the same.
Interesting.