Subway to launch NFC-based mobile payments nationwide

Milford, Conn. -- Subway announced that it will launch NFC-based mobile payments nationwide on Oct. 1 with Softcard, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless. It is one of the largest deployments of mobile payment capability in the country, Subway said.



Softcard and Subway are also teaming up to deliver offers to Subway customers via the Softcard app. As part of this promotion, Softcard users that tap and pay at a Subway restaurant will receive $1 back on every purchase over $1 made with the American Express Serve card through year-end.



This national launch is the extension of a relationship that began in 2013 and included a successful pilot in Salt Lake City earlier this year. The relationship will continue to include the chain’s loyalty program.



"Softcard has proven to be a valuable partner to us and we are proud to extend our relationship with them," said Carman Wenkoff, chief information officer, Subway. "As we've worked together to implement and pilot this technology, we've been impressed with the Softcard team and opportunities available through the Softcard platform. By embracing mobile payments and loyalty with Softcard's SmartTap technology, we're making it easier for customers to enjoy smart choices on the go."



In the coming months, the Subway card rewards program will be included in the Softcard app, providing customers in participating markets with a simpler way to collect reward points. Cardholders who load their Subway rewards card into the Softcard app will be able to simply tap their phones to the reader using SmartTap for fast and convenient presentation to the point of sale. (SmartTapM is a Softcard developed protocol that adds commerce data to an NFC transaction leveraging industry standard NFC technology to deliver loyalty and offers to retailer's point-of-sale systems.)