Apple is now selling the Square credit card reader, a product and company founded by Jack Dorsey, who is also now back at Twitter, through its online retail store. If you’re not familiar with Square, it’s basically an attachment that can connect to the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad via the 3.5mm headphone jack, and along with the accompanying iOS app, can take credit card payments.
Apple explains it a bit more on its site:
Square is a revolutionary service that allows you to accept credit cards, using a reader that plugs into your iPod touch (4th generation), iPhone 4, or iPad along with a free easy-to-use app. There’s no need for complicated contracts, monthly fees, or merchant accounts. All you pay is 2.75% per transaction. You can download the free app from the App Store. Square is currently available for use in the U.S.
If you find yourself conducting a lot of sales through Craigslist or similar services, and often deal with cash transactions and you think you can benefit from credit card payments, Square might be worth a look. Also, if you own a small business and find that the charges for a credit card payment system are a little high, or that the variances amongst certain providers seems outrageous, Square charges a flat rate across all transactions.
It’s available via Apple’s online retail store, and will soon be sold in its brick-and-mortar stores, too.
[Via: TiPB]