Isis, the mobile payment venture founded by AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, said it is opening up its network and preparing for a pilot next year.
Besides the telcos, the original Isis participants were Discover Financial Services and Barclays PLC. The venture said Monday that it is building the infrastructure to allow other banks and payment networks to participate.
It is also planning a pilot in Salt Lake City in early- to mid-2012. The Utah Transit Authority would allow fare to be purchased from Isis-enabled mobile phones systemwide. The Isis system would also function with other Salt Lake City merchants.
The Isis system would use contactless payment chips built into phones. The UTA began allowing payments from contactless cards in 2009.
