Tag: square mobile commerce

Square aims to make mobile payments better for the food industry

The food industry may soon get a powerful new advocate when it comes to mobile payments. Square, a California-based mobile commerce startup, has been making waves in the mobile world for some time. The company is partly responsible for the spread of mobile commerce in the U.S. and in several markets therein. Square, like others in the mobile payments business, has taken note of the growing proliferation of mobile technology, which itself has created a major opportunity to expose consumers to a new form of commerce.

Mobile commerce finds significant traction with restaurants

Square is well known as the creator of smartphone-based credit card readers that facilitate mobile payments. These small devices are capable of replacing traditional point-of-sale terminals with more convenient mobile technologies, allowing users to bypass traditional forms of commerce. Square’s devices have proven quite popular in several industries, but small restaurants, food truck operators, and others in the food industry have proven to be the company’s best customers.

Square to introduce update for popular application

Square is now moving to embrace the food industry in a more aggressive fashion. Several months ago, Square launched its “Business in a Box” product, which essentially transforms an iPad into a full-fledged point-of-sale system. Late last week, Square announced an update for the application associated with this product. The Square Register application will soon receive an update that is designed specifically for quick-serve restaurants. This update is expected to allow users to make real-time modifications to orders that are sent to the kitchen for preparation.

Mobile payments continue to prove popular among consumers

A more robust system is likely to be well received by the food industry, which has taken a strong interest in mobile commerce. Mobile payments have already proven to be very popular among consumers, many of whom are tethered to their smartphones and tablets and favor mobile solutions to their daily needs. Square intends to alleviate some of the issues that exist in the mobile payments sector in order to make it more accommodating to both consumers and businesses.

Mobile Card Reader to expand beyond US

Square, a maker of mobile commerce products, has announced that its Mobile Card Reader will soon be available in Canada. The move aims to engage the growing number of consumers in the country that are showing interest in mobile commerce. The Mobile Card Reader will allow both businesses and consumers to make transactions directly from a smart phone or tablet. This is a physical product, which is available for free, that can be used on both the Android and iOS platforms.

Mobile commerce growing quickly in Canada

Mobile commerce is growing in popularity largely due to the concept that it is more convenient than traditional forms of commerce. Using a smart phone, consumers can pay for goods and services with a simple gesture. For some, this is considered an innovative way to pay for things. For others, it is just another way to make purchases. Whatever the reaction from consumers is, their interest in mobile commerce is growing, as is the demand for platforms that will allow them to make purchases using their mobiles devices.

Device accounts for $8 billion in transactions each year

Though the Mobile Card Reader is free, Square is still able to make a profit off the platform. The company charges a 2.75% fee each time a transaction is made using the platform. According to Square, the platform facilitates more than $8 billion transactions every year. Considering that Square has only operated in the U.S., until very recently, the platform has proven itself to be quite successful. Bringing the Mobile Card Reader into the Canadian market will be Square’s first time expanding beyond the U.S.

Device allows smart phones to become mobile payment platform without native NFC technology

The progress and adoption of mobile commerce is being heavily delayed by the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices. The low supply of these devices means that consumer engagement in mobile commerce is limited. The Mobile Card Reader solves this problem by being equipped with its own NFC chip, allowing any smart phone or tablet to become a viable mobile payment platform.