Square Reader aims to help merchants go mobile
Leading mobile commerce organization Square has unveiled “Merchant Case” with integrated Square Reader. The Square Reader platform is designed to make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to participate in mobile commerce and track inventory and consumer trends through the Square Register platform. Square has also announced that it has launched a new partnership with Griffin that will launch the “Merchant Case,” which is used alongside the Square Reader.
Merchant Case adds more convenience to Square Reader
The Merchant Case is, quite simply, a protective case for a smartphone. The current iteration of the product is designed for the iPhone and features a space that can hold a Square Reader. The Square Reader is a small device that can be plugged into an iPhone, allowing for users to make mobile payments. Square has similar devices designed specifically for consumers, whereas the Square Reader is meant to target merchants.
Accessory makers design products for Square
Both the Square Reader and Merchant Case are part of the “Works with Square” program. This program tasks accessory makers with developing products that work specifically with Square’s products, expanding the company’s presence in mobile commerce. Square already has a powerful presence in North America and has recently expanded into the Japanese market. In the U.S. alone, the company has process over $16 billion in mobile payments.
Square continues to show promising success
Square is currently considered one of the leading entities in the mobile commerce space. The company has managed to beat out competition from others, including PayPal, and has been making progress on a wide range of initiatives. As mobile commerce continues to gain momentum with consumers and merchants, Square is expected to continue seeing impressive growth. This growth may help the company expand into new and promising markets in the near future.
Braintree sees progress during the holiday season
Braintree, a mobile payments processor, has high hopes for the holiday season. The firm has already been seeing a great deal of activity come from mobile consumers who shopped online during the Thanksgiving holiday and notes that mobile commerce is becoming much more common than it was in the past. Braintree expects to see mobile payments play a much more significant role in the retail sector, especially during the holidays when mobile shopping is favored as a convenient alternative to traditional shopping.
Cyber Monday becomes Braintree’s most successful day ever
Cyber Monday, one of the most significant days of the year for consumer electronics, was Braintree’s most successful day ever in terms of payment processing. The company processed more than $16 million in mobile payments coming from the brands that make use of its services. Braintree suggests that the increase in mobile payments volume is likely due to a pent up demand among consumers who have wanted to use their mobile devices as a shopping tool for several years. These consumers have not been able to satisfy this demand until very recently.
eBay may establish a lead in mobile commerce through Braintree acquisition
Braintree has established a formidable presence in the mobile commerce space, which is one of the reasons eBay has pursued its acquisition so aggressively. The firm is set to close an $800 million acquisition deal with eBay in the coming weeks, which will give the online retailer access to Braintree’s clients as well as its mobile payments tools. After the acquisition, Braintree is expected to begin working with PayPal, which has also taken a strong stance in the mobile commerce sector.
Mobile commerce becomes more attractive to consumers
Consumers are becoming more comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce largely due to the convenience that it represents. During the holidays, traditional shopping can be a chaotic and stressful affair. Mobile shopping allows consumers to avoid crowds and reduce the stress associated with the holidays to some degree.
