Jan 03
You can already pay with Square when you buy a Pumpkin Spice Latte™. Great. And now you can buy a Square card reader with your Starbucks order. What? More »
Dec 09
Who needs a piece of plastic to give a gift card anymore? Not you if you go through Square. A new update to the Square Wallet app adds digital giftcards you can give right from your phone right to someone else’s. And if your gift-target is running iOS 6, it’ll show up in their Passbook. More »
Dec 09
Square starts offering gift cards, ties them into Passbook for iOS 6 recipients (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Square payments have so far been self-centered affairs that won’t let us share the wealth with others. In rather convenient timing for the season, updates to Square Register and Square Wallet for Android and iOS have made a little of that sought-after generosity possible through the introduction of gift cards. Americans can now give and receive credit for any location that uses Square Register to process payments: if friends would like nothing more than to treat themselves to triple-shot espressos at the local indie coffee shop, you can make their day. The update also brings a treat for the Apple-inclined who’ve kept up-to-date with iOS 6, letting them redeem their cards quickly through Passbook instead of diving into Square Wallet or QR codes printed on old-fashioned paper. We’re still waiting on word of gift card availability for our Canadian friends, but most everyone in the US just hast to check for the relevant app updates to spread some affection.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: The Next Web
Source: Jack Dorsey (Twitter), Square
Nov 14
Square reaches $10 billion in payments per year, stays ahead of a growing pack
Posted in: Today's Chili 
It was just this spring that Square had reached a grandiose $5 billion per year payment rate and cemented its position at the top of the mobile payment processing field it practically started. Any attempts to catch up just got a lot harder now that the startup has crossed the $10 billion mark, only half a year later. A fifth of that new rate came in the past two months and hints that the company isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. The increase doesn’t have any clear driver, apart from wider media exposure, but founder Jack Dorsey notes that this doesn’t include the Starbucks deal that took effect just days ago. We know the rocket-like pace won’t last forever; all the same, the record-high levels of business undoubtedly give Square a lot of competitive padding when a deluge of recently established alternatives are still getting started.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
Square reaches $10 billion in payments per year, stays ahead of a growing pack originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov 08
While you probably won’t be able to get Jack Dorsey to buy you a grande spearmint green tea the next time you go for coffee (we should know, we’ve tried), you can at least use his payment service. Yes, today’s the day that Starbucks begins accepting Square Wallet purchases at 7,000 of its stores — just scan a QR code or NFC-tap your smartphone to make a payment. In 2013, you’ll also be given the ability to tip your barista, presumably assuming you can go through the awkwardness of pre-selecting how much you think their service is worth in front of them.
Continue reading Starbucks begins offering Square Wallet purchases from today
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc
Starbucks begins offering Square Wallet purchases from today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov 08
Back in October, we reported that Starbucks would begin accepting payments via Square Wallet in early November. That time has finally come, with Starbucks announcing that as of today, approximately 7,000 stores accept payment via the mobile service. This comes after the initial deal with Starbucks and Square that took place back in August.
Square Wallet offers a one-stop shop inside your smartphone. Users can browse the Starbucks menu, check out store hours and their transaction history, and pay for their beverage via their mobile device. The system is integrated with the Starbucks Rewards card and program, making it easy for those who frequently visit the store to keep track of their accounts.
Starbucks’ Chief Digital Officer offered this statement. “We look forward to continuing to create amazing connections with our customers – both in our stores and outside of our stores and offering our customers choices in how they want to pay … Starbucks believes in the values and vision of Square, and just three months after announcing our partnership with Square, we are thrilled to make the convenience of paying with the Square Wallet app available to our customers starting today.”
In order to use Square Wallet, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play, depending on the device. Once installed, you’ll need to link the app to your credit/debit card, which will be charged when you pay for your items with the app. After its set up, you can simply tap “Pay Here” and scan the QR code for your order.
[via Square Up]
Starbucks now accepting Square Wallet mobile payments is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 25
Square, maker of the nifty little commerce gadgets that plug into a mobile device’s headphone port, has announced the availability of its Mobile Card Reader in Canada. The Mobile Card Reader allows businesses and individuals to accept credit card payments directly from their iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. The device is free.
Square charges a 2.75% fee per card swipe, and brings in over $8 billion in annualized payments. The accompanying app, Square Register, is also free, making the system accessible to anyone who wants to convert to a mobile-based payment system. According to the press release, Canada is Square’s first foray outside of the US.
Said the VP of International for Square Alyssa Cutright, “We are focused on making commerce easy for everyone. Square builds free tools for local businesses of all sizes and types to thrive. We’re thrilled to introduce Canadian businesses and their customers to the most seamless and enjoyable way to do business.”
Payments issued through Square’s Mobile Card Reader and accompanying app are available within 1 to 2 business days. There are no setup fees or long-term contracts according to the company’s website. For those who bring in substantial business, there’s an optional $275 flat monthly rate rather than the 2.75% per transaction fee.
Square mobile commerce device launched in Canada is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 24
For all of Square’s fast growth, it’s been exclusively the domain of US shopkeeps; others had to scrounge for an alternative, if there was one at all. The payment pioneer clearly isn’t content to isolate itself or anyone else, as it’s making its international debut with support for Canada. Locals can immediately request the free Mobile Card Reader and swipe credit cards with an Android or iOS device at the same flat, 2.75 percent rate that more experimental American stores know very well. Complete equality isn’t available to Canucks just yet, as Square Wallet won’t be available until 2013, but the access remains a step forward for Canadian merchants that don’t want to be tied down to a terminal any more than their southern neighbors.
Continue reading Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage
Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 16
Back in March of this year, Square kicked off a pilot program for mobile payments inside taxis in New York City. The trial program used custom-fitted iPads that were placed in the back of taxis inNew York City. The iPads were equipped with software to show the current location of the taxi and fare cost. The iPad had a credit card scanner that allowed users to pay for the ride right on the iPad.
Square has now announced that it has officially ended its taxi pilot program. Square is also terminated its memorandum of understanding with New York City because it wants the ability to pursue different hardware and software combinations. The taxi payment program lasted seven months and was ended before the originally planned date of termination.
Square pointed the finger at pending taxi regulations in New York and elsewhere that would make it “commercially unreasonable” to pursue new hardware and software combinations while supporting the current pilot program. New York City is currently working on specifications and rules for the next taxi passenger enhancement project, which is the city’s effort to improve payments and the entertainment experience in city taxis.
The Square pilot program was originally supposed to operate in 30 taxis, and the pilot program was expected to run through February 15, 2013. The Square iPads were only placed in 15 vehicles and those 15 taxis logged 28,000 trips and approximately 100,000 miles. Square is offering to pay taxi drivers and medallion owners who participated in the test for the cost of uninstalling the Square system and installing another system from a different provider. Square is going to pay $378 to each medallion owner and taxicab driver to cover the difference in processing fees between the service and others as well.
[via gigaom]
Square ends New York taxi iPad pilot program is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 05
Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013
Posted in: Today's Chili 
If you’re wondering when Starbucks is finally going to get around to rolling out Square, wonder no more. The company announced that starting in November customers will be able to pay for their no-fat soy mocha lattes using the platform founded by Jack Dorsey. Of course, being able to use Square Wallet at the nation’s largest coffee chain is a major milestone for the mobile payment scene as a whole, but loyal customers likely already have a Starbucks card and its associated app. Only problem with both Square and the Starbucks app is you still need to carry cash to tip your barista. Thankfully, at some point in 2013, the company will start accepting tips through its own app and Square Wallet. Which also means you’ll be out of convenient excuses for not tipping, you cheap bastard.
Continue reading Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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