In our face: Softcard ending support for Windows Phone as Google acquires tech

On Monday, Google announced that they had purchased "technology and intellectual belongings" from Softcard, essentially acquiring the core of that company'southward product line. The effort is likely a desperate motility to catch upward to Apple Pay, which is picking up commercial adoption past many banks and retail outlets.

Softcard is also available in the US for Windows Phone, specifically with Verizon and AT&T beingness supporters. In fact, the apps only recently became available (although our personal feel with their service was non exactly monumental). The fate of Softcard for Windows Phone though was not known until at present.

Softcard has now fabricated information technology official: the Windows Phone Softcard app is hereby cancelled. From their FAQ section:

"The Softcard for Windows Telephone app volition also be terminated. A specific termination engagement will be provided soon."

No mincing of words there at all. Of course, Softcard no longers owns the engineering behind their app, and then this makes sense that they will carelessness the product. Google is expected to merge the Softcard engineering into their own pay arrangement, making the standalone app redundant..

Nosotros suppose if you lot folks demand fuel for your anti-Google fire, the Mount View company just gave you a barrel total. Audio off in comments nigh their conclusion and what this means for the Google-Microsoft relationship long term.

Update: Commodity clarified. Google does not own Softcard, only their technology behind their services. As such, Softcard discontinuing support for their product is expected, as Google is plainly not interested in continuing the production line for Windows Telephone.

Source: Google/Softcard; Cheers, Matthew V., for the tip!