Report Google In Talks To Buy Softcard

Google Inc. is reportedly in talks to buy Softcard, the mobile payments company formerly known as Isis. TechCrunch reported the news on Jan. 16, citing sources that said the deal could be valued below $100 million.

Softcard is jointly owned by AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile US, which invested hundreds of millions of dollars into its development. So the deal would pair Google, and its own mobile wallet, with the largest U.S. wireless carriers to help it compete with Apple Inc.'s Apple Pay service, TechCrunch reported.

Softcard has been in a consolidation phase and earlier this month laid off about 60 employees. Neither Softward nor Goggle has commented on the TechCrunch merger story.