Verizon Ventures, the VC arm of Verizon, has placed an investment of $400,000 in CardStar, the maker of a mobile app for that iPhone that serves as a holding container for all a user's digital membership cards. Cardstar is a consumer-focused application that connects loyalty cards, merchants and coupons by way of mobile devices.
The Wall Street Journal ( in an article Verizon Makes Small Bet On Mobile Loyalty-Card Program ) covered Verizon's recent move--stating that it was part of it's on-going interest in mobile commerce. This investment will certainly become more valuable with time--especially as many more incentive and loyalty programs become fitted for the iPhone and other smart mobile devices.
In total, Cardstar has raised $1.4 million in funds--including Verizon's investment of 400k.