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Motorola DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD security update to include Isis support

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by Jeff Causey on
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Yesterday we reported on Verizon’s and Motorola’s plans to roll out a security update for their Motorola DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD devices. Verizon updated their support page today with documents describing the update process and another that describes the benefits of the update. Today’s updates to the documents indicate a Google security patch will be installed. The updated documents also show support for the Isis Mobile Wallet will be included. The inclusion of Isis support really only helps customers in Salt Lake City, UT, or Austin, TX, as they are the only two locations where Isis is active. For everyone else, you will at least be ready to use Isis when it comes to your location.

The Verizon support page still indicates the update is “Coming Soon.” If you want to manually check to see if it is available, and perhaps become one of the first to receive the update, on your device go to Settings > About phone > System updates > Download to check. Verizon indicates the update is 6MB in size and should take 3-5 minutes to download and another 3-5 minutes to install.

source: Verizon

Isis NFC payments are live in Austin and Salt Lake City for T-Mobile customers

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by Sean Stewart on
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If you remember, earlier this month we told you about the Isis NFC mobile wallet application for  select devices on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Much like Google Wallet, using the Isis application will turn your smartphone into a “wallet” of sorts allowing you to use your device to make purchases conveniently at participating retailers. Well, today this application and service has launched in Austin, TX and Salt Lake City, UT for T-Mobile customers, although it’s unclear when AT&T and Verizon will join in.

T-Mobile has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S Relay, and Galaxy S II will be compatible with Isis. It needs to be noted that you’ll need to be running at least Android 4.0 in order for the application to work. You’ll also need to make sure you have a compatible SIM card (you can contact T-Mobile for specifics). Isis will of course compete with Google Wallet, and may find it to be an uphill climb initially as Google Wallet didn’t see decent success until it adopted support for all major credit cards. You can grab the Isis app from the links below. What are your thoughts on this technology – convenient, or potential personal information breach waiting to happen?

Play Store Link

QR Code generator

 

 

 

Details of ISIS Mobile Wallet emerge

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by Macky Evangelista on
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ISIS is a Mobile Wallet application that was created by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The product will initially launch on October 22nd in the selected markets: Salt Lake City, UT and Austin, TX. ISIS aims to be similar to Google Wallet as you’ll be able to turn your smartphone into a virtual wallet and use it in combination with your NFC-enabled device to pay for your purchases. Here’s some more details about ISIS:

  • Virtual Cards:  As expected, Isis will hold virtual versions of credit cards, an Isis Cash Card (prepaid card), store loyalty cards, and a section for special offers and promotions.
  • Bonus Cash:  When you first activate Isis, there will be a $10 bonus card for you to use. If you want even more cash, you can upgrade the Isis Cash Card to “reloadable” status which will land you an additional $15.
  • Security:  If your phone is lost or stolen, you can call Verizon and they will freeze Isis from working.
  • Merchants:  Isis will work at merchant locations that use Visa PayWave, MasterCard Paypass, Discover Zip, American Express and Google Wallet.
  • NFC-SIM Cards:  From what we have been told, Verizon will use new NFC-SIM cards on their Isis approved devices. We aren’t sure why they aren’t satisfied with simply using the on-board NFC chip, but this likely creates an additional level of security. It’s also a level of security that they can have intense control over, I would assume.
  • Devices:  The official “Isis ready” device is the DROID Incredible 4G LTE. As you will recall from this morning, the device is set to receive an update to make it Isis ready. Additional devices will be made available at a later time, but you should note that not all NFC phones can support Isis. If you live in a trial market and purchase an Incredible 4G LTE on or after October 22 (launch day), it will be activated with a new NFC-SIM card. If you already own an Incredible 4G LTE and live in a test market, you will be able to obtain an NFC-SIM to replace your current SIM.
  • Incredible 4G Purchase + $50 in Cash:  From October 22 to November 20, you can buy an Incredible 4G LTE and receive a $50 Visa Pre-Paid card. From what we understand, you will have to activate Isis and submit a rebate form in order to get the card.

What do you guys think about ISIS? Do you think it can compete with Google Wallet or do you guys see now use of this because of the availability of Google Wallet?

source: Droid Life

Google Wallet’s first major competitor, ISIS Mobile Wallet, set to Launch Oct. 22 in Salt Lake City and Austin

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by William Metzger on
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Google Wallet’s acceptance into everyday usage hasn’t been the smoothest, but has been picking up. With some carriers not allowing installs of Google’s NFC-based payment system, not everybody has been able to reap the benefits of living a potentially wallet-free lifestyle. So with such spotty acceptance, is there room for a competitor on this shaky ground? The makers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) behind Isis Mobile Wallet seem to think so. Consumers will finally get to try out the long awaited new service on October 22 in Salt Lake City and Austin.

Isis has a number of similarities with Google Wallet: When users sign up they receive a free $10 Isis cash card credit, along with accepting a wide variety of credit and debit cards. If Isis can negotiate wider acceptance of their application and offer a simple solution to increase the number of NFC payment terminals, their October 22nd might just be a success.

Source: AndroidCentral

T-Mobile Galaxy S II update makes it first Isis ready phone

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by Jeff Causey on
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T-Mobile began rolling out an OTA update today for Samsung Galaxy S II devices. The changelog for the UVLH1 update is only two lines long, but the first line indicates “ISIS/NFC update.” We have not yet received confirmation as to whether the update includes an Isis app, but it appears T-Mobile is at least installing the framework. Of note is the fact that T-Mobile is rolling this out to existing devices instead of just including it on new devices.

Isis is a mobile payment system similar to Google Wallet. Using NFC, users can make payments at retailers by simply tapping their phones on a point of sale terminal. At the retailer end, Verifone Systems is working on terminals to be deployed in Salt Lake City and Austin for the initial markets. This is supposed to occur during September. Isis differentiates itself from Google Wallet or other providers in that it is being rolled out by carriers – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to be specific. The rollout has been delayed due to a change in strategy to have credit-card companies handle the processing instead of the carriers. Security concerns have also weighed heavily on the project as the partners work to assure payments can be made securely and critical financial information can be protected.

source: Bloomberg, Android Police

All Four Major U.S. Carriers Join Google, ISIS and Major Financial Institutions to Form Mobile Payments Committee

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by Justin Crouch on
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When Google recently updated Wallet with the ability to use any credit card, I was in a training class. I immediately lost all focus in what I was supposed to be learning and began punching in my credit card info so I could use NFC to buy stuff. My only issue would be finding a place to use the service, outside of 7-11 I mean.

Google knows it’s a challenge to find places to pay with NFC and so do other financial institutions looking to break into the industry. Well Google, Isis, PayPal, VeriFone and the big four carriers in the US are banding together to form the “Mobile Payments Committee.” The goal is to keep the technology moving forward and increase adoption among merchants. Wells Fargo, Capital One, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, etc. are among some of the financial institutions joining in on the fun. It makes sense to see all these powerful companies getting involved, this is truly the next wave of technology and I believe it will be the new norm. I think one major roadblock for merchants isn’t the security, but the cost of installing all these types of machines.

Soon the committee will begin educating and lobbying regulators, merchants, consumers and legislators in the ways of NFC. Hit the break for the full press release.

» Read the rest

Google Confirms Google Wallet On HTC Evo 4G LTE Has “Software Problem”, Update Coming

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by Ed Caggiani on
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Google Wallet has been having issues on Sprint’s Evo 4G LTE, and Google has confirmed that there is indeed a problem. Users of HTC’s One X variant on the Now Network were seeing a notification telling users “Google Wallet has not yet been certified in your country or on your device / carrier,” rendering the app useless. Google is now stating the NFC component on the phone contains a “software problem” which can be fixed with a software patch. Google is working with HTC and Sprint to remedy the situation, but no date was given for the release of an update other than saying it would arrive “soon”.

This is good news since it validates that Sprint was not revoking Google Wallet’s certification in favor of Sprint’s own upcoming Touch Wallet.

Just add this to the list of problems Google Wallet has been having lately, including security flaws and root issues, not to mention increased heat from competitors ISIS and carrier-specific payment systems like Touch Wallet. Seems like the mobile payment space is starting to get a little competitive, which in the long run could be good for consumers.

source: the verge

Withdraw Cash From An ATM By Scanning A QR Code With Your Phone

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by Ed Caggiani on
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Mobile payment systems have been moving toward NFC technologies, with Google Wallet and other NFC-based systems like ISIS. This requires the use of a device with an NFC chip, and NFC-enabled pay stations.

NCR Corporation has something different in mind with their QR code-based ATM withdrawal system called  NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal. While not exactly a point-of-sale system like Google Wallet, it allows you to get money from any supported bank’s ATM. The technology does not require any new hardware on either end for it to work. NCR is using standard QR codes that can be scanned by any Android device with a camera. A user simply needs to have the NCR app installed, walk up to a supported ATM, scan a code, and withdraw money. No passwords are swapped between the phone and the ATM, so ATM password skimmers become useless.

Without more information, it’s difficult to say how secure this system is, but NCR is planning implementation this year and is currently looking for banks “with an innovative spirit” to partner with.

Watch the demo video after the break.

» Read the rest

The Survey Says… Most Americans Don’t Plan To Use Mobile Payment Systems

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by Ed Caggiani on
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With the competition heating up in the mobile payment space (Google Wallet vs ISIS), one would think it’s something we’re all clamoring for. But a recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, concludes that Americans are not quite feeling the “pay with your phone” vibe yet. The study, funded by Nokia, surveyed 1,203 adult internet users in the U.S. and found that 74 percent say they do not plan on using a mobile payment system due to privacy concerns.

Other notable findings include:

  • 96 percent of respondents are against any system which uses their phones to track them while they shop
  • 81 percent object to sharing their phone numbers or home addresses with a retailer during a mobile payment transaction
  • 51 percent object to sharing their email address with a retailer during a mobile payment transaction

» Read the rest

Isis Takes On Even More Partners, Ready To Combat Google Wallet

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by Joe Sirianni on
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So, Isis is already to kick it into high gear as they’ve already announced several banking partners, several carriers as well as handset manufacturers and are all set to take on Google Wallet.  Now, all they need is compatible equipment in the field right?  They’re on it.  The company has recently announced they’ve begun partnering with VeriFone, Equinox, Ingenico and ViVOtech to kick things off right.  That’s a huge portion of the world’s check-out systems.  All of these companies have agreed to work with Isis on getting future hardware up to par with the service and possibly even getting more equipment in the field to work with the application.  We’re indeed in good times, are we not?  The future is here and it will be interesting to watch Isis and Google go at it for the consumer.  Feel free to let us know what you think about it in the comments below.  Check out the press release for more detailed information.   » Read the rest

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