Jack Dorsey’s Square Mobile Payment System Arrives In UK

Mobile payment platform Square has arrived in the UK, allowing small businesses to accept card and smartphone payments, and to digitise their point of sale (POS) systems.

Square, led by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, went public in November 2015 and has expanded from its native US to Canada, Australia and Japan.

Customers pay for a £39 card reader which pairs with an Android and iOS smartphone using a dedicated POS application. Square works with Visa, MasterCard and American Express as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Square UK launch

Businesses can review invoices, manage online orders and send digital receipts without the need to splash out on dedicated POS hardware typically found in a supermarket or large retailer. There’s no subscription or monthly fee, just a transaction charge.

“Not only is this convenient for you, but it also gives your customers the freedom to choose how they want to pay, creating a fast and easy experience for them,” said Square. “By accepting all forms of payment, you increase the number of people that you can do business with.”

The company’s European expansion has long been mooted, with job adverts in Dublin and London suggesting a move was imminent, along with the creation of a UK website, application and Twitter account.

Square competes with Sweden’s iZettle and SumUp, a London-based startup, as retailers seek to ensure they don’t miss out on business as cashless payments become increasingly popular.

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