Square Announces Plans to Begin Accepting Apple Pay in 2015

[MacRumors]

Speaking with CNN, Square founder Jack Dorsey confirmed that the payment processing service will support Apple Pay in the coming months, bringing Apple Pay to small business owners. In the interview, Dorsey reiterates his opinion that he does not view Apple Pay as a competitor and wants to add the mobile payments service as an available option for Square users.

"We're not building a credit card. We're not building a payment device. We're building a [cash] register, and this register accepts all these forms of payments," Dorsey told CNN in an interview.

While the existing Square Reader can process credit card payments via an iPad or iPhone, the hardware is not equipped to handle the wireless transactions required by Apple Pay. In order to support Apple's mobile payment technology, Square will need to introduce all new hardware with built-in NFC connectivity.

Square is currently working on an EMV chip card Reader that it plans to introduce in the spring 2015, but that upcoming device does not support NFC, making it unclear when in 2015 an NFC-compatible Square Reader might be released.

Apple Pay launched last month alongside iOS 8.1 and is available only in U.S. with global expansion planned in the future. The payment service is supported by a number of large retailers, major banks and restaurants including the recently added Disney Store, Sephora, SunTrust Bank, and Levi's Stadium,.

Article Link: Square Announces Plans to Begin Accepting Apple Pay in 2015

 

[\-V-/]

Awesome. I use Square a lot for my business. Having an NFC-equipped adapter will be sweet.

 

[Rogifan]

So basically they're supporting NFC which in turn will enable Pay (among others) support.

 

[coolfactor]

This is probably the tipping point for me to upgrade from my trusty iPhone 4 to a 6... but first Pay needs to come to Canada... hurry up Apple! We still don't have iTunes Radio either! It's been more than a year.

 

[fjfjfjfj]

Is it possible since the square registers are normally iPads or iPhones that they could accomplish accepting Apple Pay without a NFC reader? Through some sort of Apple proprietary connection between devices similar to AirDrop?

 

[Dr.Buzz]

NFC isn't Necessary, A New iPad is

I believe I read on MacRumors that the newest iPads have NFC built in so that 3rd party apps can access the feature, despite not having a direct need for Apple Pay via that device.

This suggests that the new Square stand will likely need an upgrade to support cards with chips, but that we retailers will need to buy both a new stand AND the current iPad Air to support NFC payments. I knew this was coming, will still cost less than going with traditional merchant service BS.

Plus, If you are in my situation, I guess you can always sell your other iPads to employees at a discount or something like this to supplement the costs of the new ones. Not bad at all.

 

[vmachiel]

Yeah, another point for  Pay

 

[gretafour]

I feel like Apple could buy Square and do very well. Even enable individuals to accept payments using Apple Pay.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

This is good news, a lot of mom and pop places are starting use Square.

 

[JAT]

Surprisingly clear quote from the interview. Square seems to want people to understand them.

 

[rfahey79]

This is huge! In my business where my emphasis is convenience and security for my customers, this is a welcome announcement. If in turn it opens the door to other forms of payment (google wallet, etc) I'm all for it.

Square has recently begun taking pre-orders of EMC-enabled credit card readers as well. Nice to see a company that embraces the technology rather than picking some out-dated, exclusive, not-as-secure system like CurrentC.

 

[Waxhead138]

Seems like a pretty practical, even wise decision on their part.

 

[brianvictor7]

Excellent! More into the fold!

 

[iMerik]

I want Square and Pay to both succeed, so this is refreshing news.

 

[proline]

I feel like Apple could buy Square and do very well. Even enable individuals to accept payments using Apple Pay.

I love how some people just listen to their feelings and don't bother asking questions like 'why'? If Square is voluntarily a part of the iOS / Apple Pay ecosystem, what advantage would come from buying them?

 

[dagamer34]

I believe I read on MacRumors that the newest iPads have NFC built in so that 3rd party apps can access the feature, despite not having a direct need for Apple Pay via that device.

This suggests that the new Square stand will likely need an upgrade to support cards with chips, but that we retailers will need to buy both a new stand AND the current iPad Air to support NFC payments. I knew this was coming, will still cost less than going with traditional merchant service BS.

Plus, If you are in my situation, I guess you can always sell your other iPads to employees at a discount or something like this to supplement the costs of the new ones. Not bad at all.

They have the secure element to store device-specific credit card info for Apple Pay, they do not have the NFC antenna to accept payments. The single package has chips for both processing NFC signals and well as storing data. I guess Apple didn't want to have to supply multiple parts.

 

[Drumjim85]

I believe I read on MacRumors that the newest iPads have NFC built in so that 3rd party apps can access the feature, despite not having a direct need for Apple Pay via that device.

This suggests that the new Square stand will likely need an upgrade to support cards with chips, but that we retailers will need to buy both a new stand AND the current iPad Air to support NFC payments. I knew this was coming, will still cost less than going with traditional merchant service BS.

Plus, If you are in my situation, I guess you can always sell your other iPads to employees at a discount or something like this to supplement the costs of the new ones. Not bad at all.

While there is a NFC chip in the new iPads, there isn't an antenna. It's thought that the NFC chip is only used for the secure enclave to allow Apple Pay.

 

[rdlink]

Couple of observations:

First, this will likely bring Starbucks into the Apple Pay fold, as well.

I think this may be another nail in the coffin of MCX.

 

[SimonTheSoundMa]

Square, how about scrapping magnetic strip. You can't use them any more in most of the world. #getwiththetimes

 

[BruiserB]

Is it possible since the square registers are normally iPads or iPhones that they could accomplish accepting Apple Pay without a NFC reader? Through some sort of Apple proprietary connection between devices similar to AirDrop?

That's a really cool point! There's no reason the payment token couldn't be transferred by BT rather than NFC. There would just need to be something in the Square Register software that establishes a connection to a nearby iPhone to say "I'm ready to take an ApplePay payment." And then the iPhone passbook would see this and the payment could be made by a Bluetooth connection....no additional hardware needed.

 

[rdlink]

I love how some people just listen to their feelings and don't bother asking questions like 'why'? If Square is voluntarily a part of the iOS / Apple Pay ecosystem, what advantage would come from buying them?

I could see it having an upside for Apple.

Square has spent the last several years building a great payment processor infrastructure. Apple would be able to market Apple Pay directly to small business, instead of relying on their banking partners to do it.

 

[ptb42]

It would be really nice if Apple were to provide an API for the NFC chip that would allow Square (and others) to provide a point-of-sale terminal without add-on hardware.

I know the Ipad Air 2 doesn't have an antenna, but an iPhone 6 should be able to do it. It's also a good reason to add an antenna to a future iPad.

 

[duaneu]

Square, how about scrapping magnetic strip. You can't use them any more in most of the world. #getwiththetimes

Because that's all most cards here have. Only one card in my wallet has a chip. The rest are mag strip only.

 

[BruiserB]

I believe I read on MacRumors that the newest iPads have NFC built in so that 3rd party apps can access the feature, despite not having a direct need for Apple Pay via that device.

This suggests that the new Square stand will likely need an upgrade to support cards with chips, but that we retailers will need to buy both a new stand AND the current iPad Air to support NFC payments. I knew this was coming, will still cost less than going with traditional merchant service BS.

Plus, If you are in my situation, I guess you can always sell your other iPads to employees at a discount or something like this to supplement the costs of the new ones. Not bad at all.

But older iPads have Bluetooth....maybe BTLE would be necessary, so don't know what the first iPad with that is. If the payment token could be passed by Bluetooth, then new iPads wouldn't be necessary. The Secure Enclave is only needed by the sending device, not the receiving one.

 

[Rigby]

Is it possible since the square registers are normally iPads or iPhones that they could accomplish accepting Apple Pay without a NFC reader? Through some sort of Apple proprietary connection between devices similar to AirDrop?

Not likely (at least not yet). Even Apple stores use a special NFC jacket on their iPhones to accept Apple Pay.