Amazon has launched a US-based mobile payment service with a plug-in credit card reader for smartphones and tablets. It enables small business owners to take payments on mobile devices via a free app and is seen as a rival to longer-established services including Square, PayPal and iZettle.
The new Amazon Local Register charges $10 for the card reader - which works on Amazon Fire tablets, Apple iOS devices and some Samsung Android smartphones - but offers a $10 credit against processing fees. There’s also an initial offer of a 1.75% transaction charge, lower than most competitors.
Matt Swann, Vice President of Amazon Local Commerce, said “From clothing stores to contractors, food trucks to accountants, businesses and organizations using Amazon Local Register will enjoy industry-leading low rates, trusted and secure payment processing, and access to award-winning customer support. We understand that every penny and every minute counts, so we want to make accepting payments so easy and inexpensive that it no longer gets in the way of a business owner doing what they love - serving their customers and growing their business.”