The New Square Reader: Swiping Never Felt So Good
Custom components create Square’s best-performing Reader ever
SAN FRANCISCO – December 9, 2013 - Today Square released the latest generation of the pioneering credit card reader that empowers millions of people to accept credit cards. The all-new Square Reader is built with custom-designed components for better performance, easier use and an elegant, thinner design.
“We engineered purpose-built components to create both excellent performance and beautiful design, without compromise,” said Jesse Dorogusker, head of Hardware at Square.
Standout features of the new Square Reader include:
- A custom magnetic readhead and spring. Thinner and more accurate than the alternatives, the readhead parses redundant data from credit cards to ensure successful swipes.
- Custom electronics in a single chip. The reader is powered by the phone into which it is plugged, eliminating the need for a bulky battery and increasing life and reliability.
- Improved communications protocols and a custom audio plug. The Square Reader is compatible with more devices than ever before.
- The thinnest mobile card reader on the market.
The new Square Reader is available today at square.com, and is free to anyone that signs up for a Square account. It will be available in the 30,000 retail stores nationwide that carry the Square Reader in the new year.
About Square, Inc.
Square is making commerce easy for everyone. Starting with a free credit card reader for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, Square Reader allows anyone to accept credit cards anywhere, anytime, for a low transaction rate of 2.75 percent per swipe, with no hidden fees. Square Register serves as a full point-of-sale system for businesses to accept payments, manage items, and share menu and location information. Square Wallet, available in the U.S., is the most seamless way to pay, enabling individuals to pay at their favorite local businesses, discover new ones nearby, explore menu listings, and store receipts. Founded in 2009, and headquartered in San Francisco, Square is currently available in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. More information is available at squareup.com.