Google Strikes Mobile Payments Deal With Big Wireless Carriers, Buys Softcard Technology

Google has inked a distribution deal with the biggest wireless carriers in the U.S. to get its Google Wallet payments app pre-installed on their phones. At the same time, Google is buying technology from Softcard, the mobile payments app backed by the same carriers. The deal will see Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T pre-install Google Wallet on their Android phones in the U.S. later this year. The move also involves Google buying some intellectual property from Softcard, formerly known as ISIS.