Isis will roll out its mobile commerce program in Austin, TX, during the first half of 2012 as it looks to reach more consumers with its NFC-enabled mobile payments service.

Consumers in Austin will be able to use Isis-enabled mobile devices to make point-of-sale purchases and redeem offers at participating merchant locations. Isis previously announced Salt Lake City, UT, as the first market where it would launch. 

“Today’s announcement is yet another confirmation that mobile commerce is becoming a reality for merchants and consumers,” said Jaymee Johnson, head of marketing for Isis, New York.

“Isis selected Austin for its culture of innovation, thriving business community, entrepreneurial spirit and early adopters,” he said. “Austin is home to progressive and tech savvy consumers and merchants – a key demographic for Isis’ mobile commerce program.”

Isis is a joint venture between AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. It was introduced in late 2010.

Appealing to local merchants
The company is working with local merchants and the Austin Chamber of Commerce to encourage wide-scale consumer adoption and merchant support across Austin.

“Our work with the Austin Chamber of Commerce is key to these efforts,” Mr. Johnson said. “Yesterday, we held a merchant event with more than 50 local merchants where we talked about ways we can help them connect and educate consumers.

“We’ll be working closely with merchants to educate and show value to consumers,” he said.

Beginning next year, consumers will be able to use mobile phones with embedded NFT technology to make point-of-purchase sales with a tap of the phone.

“For consumers, they will need NFC-enabled phones,” Mr. Johnson said. “This is something that we’re looking at very closely with the carriers to ensure that we’re ready to meet the demand and facilitate choice for consumers once we launch in Salt Lake City and Austin.”

Isis is not the only group out there looking to make mobile commerce widely available to consumers and merchants. 

Google recently launched the Google Wallet in partnership with Sprint, MasterCard, Citi and First Data.

Google Wallet will enable Sprint subscribers on Android smartphones to make purchases as well as redeem coupons and rewards.

“Things are heating up in the mobile commerce space,” Mr. Johnson said.

“For anyone entering this sector, we believe that potential solutions need to be equally well-suited to the interests of three key constituents: consumers, merchants and banks,” he said. “This approach ensures that privacy and security for all stakeholders are maintained and that that existing relationships of trust are guaranteed.

“We believe Isis is best equipped to provide the necessary scope and scale to move toward widespread consumer adoption of mobile commerce.”

Final Take
Chantal Tode, Assoc. Editor, Mobile Commerce Daily