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Softcard Mobile Payment App Shutting Down March 31

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Mobile payment service Softcard, which Google acquired last month, will shut down on March 31.

After some late January rumors, Google last month said it would be acquiring "some exciting technology and intellectual property" from Softcard.

Now, Softcard has posted a notice on its website that says "as of 3/31 your Softcard app will no longer work. You can continue to use the Softcard app until 3/31. After that your Account will be closed."

The company is encouraging users to download Google Wallet instead.

A joint effort between AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, the Softcard app stored users' account details and loyalty cards electronically, making it easy to pay wirelessly via Near Field Communication (NFC). Users entered a pin, selected a payment card, and held a phone over the "contactless" symbol on the payment terminal.

Softcard was formerly known as Isis, but rebranded in September, in an effort to distance itself from any association with the violent Islamic group of the same name.

Google announced the Softcard acquisition on the same day it revealed that Google Wallet will soon come preinstalled on Android phones running 4.4 KitKat or higher, and sold by AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.

For more, see PCMag's review of Google Wallet and the slideshow above. Also check out Why Google Wallet Has Been a Failure.

Google Wallet (and Apple Pay) got some competition this week with the launch of Samsung Pay at MWC; check out PCMag's hands on and the slideshow above.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
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