McDonald's customers in the United States now have another way to pay for their orders, thanks to a new collaboration with Softcard. Customers will now be able to tap and pay both in-restaurant and in the drive-thru lane at all US McDonald's locations, marking the largest deployment of NFC-based mobile commerce in drive-thru, according to a press release. 

"We are pleased to announce this national launch after a successful pilot program that began in 2013. Our work with Softcard further reinforces McDonald's commitment to customer service and convenience," said Anja Carroll, vice president of Media and Consumer Connection for McDonald's USA. "By collaborating with top brands in the mobile payments and commerce space, we're able to deliver a more meaningful experience to our customers that includes greater speed, ease and value."

Softcard is a free app that combines payments, offers and loyalty. McDonald's customers can download and use Softcard today on more than 80 mobile devices across AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Through its use of the contactless EMV global standard and SmartTap mobile commerce technology, Softcard enables payments, offers and loyalty redemption through a simple tap.

"McDonald's is one of the world's most iconic and innovative brands," said Michael Abbott, chief executive officer, Softcard. "The scale and reach of McDonald's will drive mobile payments further into the mainstream and demonstrate the value Softcard delivers to both merchants and customers."

Last month, Subway also announced its strategic partnership with Softcard to support mobile payments. 

The world's two largest restaurant brands are moving aggressively in the mobile commerce space, having also been named initial partners of Apple Pay last month.