Softcard brings NFC payment support to US Windows Phone users

Softcard is bringing NFC payment support to the Windows Phone mobile platform.

The company, a mobile payments joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon, aims to bridge the gap between merchants, banks, tech firms and brands. Users who wish to pay for products using Softcard's near-field communication (NFC) technology currently must be customers of these carriers, and if their device is compatible, can use an accompanying app to set up NFC payment through their smartphone.

Currently, Softcard users can pay at hundreds of thousands of stores across the United States, and are able to earn loyalty points and use special offers at partnered merchant locations.

Speaking at the Money20/20 conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Softcard CEO Michael Abbott announced the NFC app has come to Windows Phone, making Softcard the only provider of a "NFC-based mobile wallet supported on multiple mobile operating systems." By the end of the year, Abbott hopes Softcard will be supported on over 100 mobile devices.

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