Isis

Isis, the wireless carrier joint venture created to push mobile payment services, said today that it would launch its trials in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas, on Oct. 22.

There will be as many as 20 compatible handsets by the end of the year, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

Isis is an effort by Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile USA to create a standard platform that would allow consumers to pay for goods and services with their smartphones. It's just one of several mobile payment initiatives -- one of the most notable being Google … Read more

Isis won't be launching its mobile payment trials at the end of summer.

Isis, which is a joint venture between Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile USA, told CNET today that it was delaying the start of its trials, which were scheduled to start this month in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Austin, Texas.

Isis is one of several parties attempting to roll out a broader system of mobile payments, which would enable you to purchase goods and services by waving a smartphone at a cash register, subway turnstile, or inside a taxi. Unlike a higher profile launch … Read more

Your smartphone is going to get more adept at handling money, but maybe not in quite the way you've been imagining it would.

There's been a lot of talk lately about mobile payments and how new apps or NFC technology will let you pay for things with your smartphone. But the truth is that this market is less about finding a new way for you to pay for things and more about offering you an easier way to carry and redeem coupons and special offers.

What's the most successful mobile payment system to date? It's an … Read more

ISIS, a joint venture between the wireless carriers to usher in a mobile-payment system, is poised to launch in two trial markets in September.

That's according to Doug Bergeron, CEO of Verifone, which makes the payment terminals that most mobile-payment systems rely on. Bergeron confirmed the month to CNET, although he declined to provide a specific date. Bloomberg earlier reported on ISIS' launch time.

Bergeron was optimistic about the prospects for ISIS.

"With the carriers on their side, they stand to have a very good chance to succeed provide the handset makers get NFC-enabled smartphones out as promised,&… Read more

Some big stories in Thursday's tech highlights, but stick around for the Olympic LOLs:

Google Wallet now lets users pay with any major credit or debit card. But you still have to have one of the few Sprint devices with NFC to use the service. That's because Verzion, AT&T and T-Mobile rather have you wait for the competing service they invested in, called Isis. But don't hold your breath waiting for Isis.

The Transportation Security Administration has been ordered to address comments and concerns from the public about its airport body scanners. Wired has reported … Read more

That vision of paying for goods and services with your phone anywhere you go? You shouldn't hold your breath.

While there are trials and select deployments of payment terminals and cash registers that can accept mobile payments, the method won't hit the mainstream in the U.S. for another two to three years, according to Bill Gajda, head of mobile for Visa.

"We're seeing momentum in 2013," Gajda said in an interview with CNET. "But it's really about commercial launches and scale."

Visa has been one of the bigger companies spearheading the … Read more

Isis, a joint venture among Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile USA, will likely start trials of its mobile-payment service in August, according to a person familiar with the launch plans.

The August target, however, isn't set in stone. CNET has gotten indications elsewhere that the timing may change. A representative for Isis only said the service would begin trials in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas, this summer, pushed back from the prior forecast of a mid-year launch.

Isis will join Google Wallet in its attempt to get people to start paying at cash registers with their … Read more

The wireless carriers' mobile-payments joint venture, after a slow start, is picking up some steam.

Isis, a partnership between AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile, has lined up 50 merchant partners, including heavy hitters like Coca-Cola, Macy's, and Foot Locker, as it gets closer to rolling out its service in trials in Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The merchants indicate a level of confidence in the venture's ability to roll out a widespread mobile-payment system, which would allow consumers to use specific smartphones to tap and pay for their goods and services. Beyond the big … Read more