Google In Talks To Buy Mobile-payments Company Softcard : Report

(RTTNews) - Google Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) is in talks to acquire mobile-payments company Softcard in a deal that would pair the Internet giant with the largest U.S. wireless carriers to battle Apple Inc. (AAPL) and its new Apple Pay service, the Wall street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

Softcard is owned by AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA.

Quoting people, the report said that Google recently entered exclusive negotiations with Softcard by offering to buy the business for at least $50 million. PayPal also expressed interest in Softcard. They said Softcard's telecom-company owners prefer Google because they all distribute phones that use Google's Android mobile-operating system.