SUBWAY launches Softcard-branded NFC payment terminals at more than 26,000 locations nationwide, the largest NFC restaurant deployment in the United States
September 16, 2014 – MILFORD, CT – The SUBWAY® restaurant chain today announced that it will launch NFC-based mobile payments nationwide on October 1st with Softcard, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless. Softcard users can use their mobile phones to experience a new way to pay and save at more than 26,000 SUBWAY locations in the United States. This is one of the largest deployments of mobile payment capability in the country.
Softcard and the SUBWAY® brand 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 beyond today’s announcement to include the SUBWAY® 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, for the SUBWAY® chain. “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, SUBWAY will include the SUBWAY Card Rewards Program in the Softcard app, providing customers in participating SUBWAY Rewards 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. SmartTap™ 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 sales systems.
Quick-service restaurants (QSR) are quickly adopting mobile payment technology as consumers show increasing interest in using their mobile devices for an easier way to pay. The National Restaurant Association reports four in 10 young adults say they would likely pay for their quick-service restaurant orders by mobile or wireless device if they could.
“SUBWAY is a leader in the quick-service restaurant industry and has placed itself at the forefront of mobile payments with today’s announcement,” said Michael Abbott, chief executive officer, Softcard. “We’re thrilled to have a great partner in SUBWAY; and we look forward to providing their customers with a simpler, quicker way to pay.”
Softcard is a mobile commerce platform that combines payments, offers and loyalty to provide users a safe and easy way to shop, pay and save using their mobile phones. The app uses NFC, SmartTapTM and other industry leading technologies to enable secure payments and commerce at more than 200,000 locations nationwide. Softcard is available on more than 80 devices across AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless and is preloaded on more than 30 of those devices with more being added all the time.
*Additional details on the American Express Serve card offer can be found at the following link:https://www.paywithisis.com/offers/serve.html.
About SUBWAY® restaurants
Since 1965, SUBWAY® owners have been devoted to offering customers customized made to order sandwiches with a wide range of better-for-you options. Providing easy access to vegetables, detailed nutrition, dietary, and healthy lifestyle information has been a priority for the SUBWAY® chain for many years, earning the American Heart Association’s Heart Check Meal Certification in 2012 for many Fresh Fit™ meal options. As the world’s largest restaurant chain, thousands of dedicated entrepreneurs have the opportunity to run their own business, while playing an important role in their communities. To learn more information about us, visit http://www.subway.com, like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/subway and follow us on https://twitter.com/subway. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.
About Softcard
The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City. The venture is chartered with building Softcard, a national mobile commerce venture that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. Softcard™ is available to all merchants, banks, payment networks and mobile carriers. Softcard and the associated logos are trademarks of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information visit www.gosoftcard.com.
