X

Isis Wallet becomes Softcard to avoid confusion with militant group

Mobile-payment service wants to distance itself from extremist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also called ISIS.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger
2 min read

Isis, the mobile-payment service built by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to take on the likes of Google Wallet and others, has officially rebranded.

softcard.png
Isis Wallet doesn't want to be confused with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Screenshot by CNET

Isis Wallet will now be known as Softcard, the company announced on Wednesday. Along with its new name, the company also debuted a new logo.

In July, Isis announced plans to rebrand "to avoid confusion and association with a violent Islamic militant group in the Middle East whose name, when translated into English, is known by the acronym, ISIS."

Although customers will see a new name and logo, there will be no change in the way the service works. As before, customers will be able to store credit card information, loyalty cards, and coupons and offers, into the Softcard app and make payments from their devices without actually being required to take those cards out of their pockets.

The mobile wallet space has become hotly contested over the last couple of years. While several companies, including Google, PayPal, and others, have attempted to make a name for themselves in the space, no single firm has cornered the market. Apple is also expected to unveil a new mobile-payment platform alongside the iPhone 6 at an event on September 9.

The lack of a leader in the mobile payments gives Softcard some flexibility with its rebrand. If Softcard was forced to change its name in a mature market, it might have had difficulty educating consumers on the change. Instead, its just one new name in mobile payments -- a market that has yet to reach critical mass.

The changeover to Softcard will be swift but not immediate. The company said it will be systematically making its changes as it goes. It expects to officially end all Isis references within the next several weeks.

CNET has contacted Softcard for additional comment. We will update this story when we have more information.