NFC Times Exclusive: Isis made good on its pledge to go nationwide before the end of the year, with its announcement of its national launch today, after Verizon made version 2.0 of the Isis Mobile Wallet live on Google Play yesterday. That followed AT&T and T-Mobile USA, which had earlier made the new wallet app available.

In addition, SIMs are in the thousands of mobile shops, with more headed that way, while store displays are going up. 

But with relatively few merchant terminals supporting Isis software that can accommodate offers along with payments in a single tap, a low penetration of contactless terminals of any kind in the U.S. and delays in getting software for the specially equipped iPhone ready, it seems unlikely the joint venture or its member telcos would launch any kind of national promotional campaign this year, keen observers point out. 

And despite efforts by Isis to introduce a platform that retailers, brands and issuers could use for location-based promotions and messaging, it will take time to get the kinks out of it. While Isis phones, SIMs and wallet software might be ready by the end of the year, effectively, expect the real launch in 2014. 

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Among Topics Covered:
•Isis Effective Launch Date
•Quiet National Launch for Sprint
•GlobalPlatform’s technical director’s surprising view on  card emulation
•Job cuts at Stollmann
•Gemalto to reorganize software business, though  details scarce 

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