Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s new company, Square, gives iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch owners the capability to accept credit card payments and charges a small percentage of each transaction only. No monthly or annual fees. No hardware expenses. And now, you can get a Square reader at an Apple Store or from Apple’s Web site.
This is obviously a huge step for the start-up that has been offering a mobile payment solution for independent contractors and small businesses for almost a year now via its Web site.
Square’s device is a small card reader plugs into the headphone jack on your iOS (or Android) device. The app is free. The reader is free. It’s a great deal for small businesses that can’t afford traditional credit card machines or the monthly and yearly upkeep fees that many companies still charge.
I have been using Square for the last several months with ease and to great response. Square keeps its iOS app updated and running soundly and offers tremendous online support for the product, and now that its availability will be increasing, Square should see nothing but continued success.
Read more about Square from fellow CNET writer Rick Broida here. You can already order your Square from the Apple Store online (the $9.95 price tag includes a $10 credit for Square fees, evening out the hardware cost) and will soon be able to pick one up in every Apple Store in the country. Currently Square is only available in the U.S.
Do you have a small business that would benefit (or already has) from Square? Let me know in the comments (and include links if you’ve got them)!