Amazon to launch credit card reader to compete with Square, leaked papers suggest

By Trevor Mogg July 28, 2014

There’ve been a number of news stories in recent months suggesting Amazon is on the cusp of launching its own mobile credit card reader to take on the likes of Square and PayPal Here, with the latest of these reports, which landed Sunday, adding further weight to the idea that such a device is in the works.

Recommended Videos

Additional evidence that the e-commerce giant is about to announce new hardware came via internal documents from Staples, 9to5Mac reported.

The inventory papers list, among other things, an “Amazon card reader”, and also advises stores to hold back promotional material, such as signage, until August 12. The reader is set to sell for $9.99, according to the documents.

The suggestion is that if Amazon does indeed launch a card reader in the coming weeks, it’ll likely connect with its Wallet app, which it introduced just a few days ago.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard that Amazon is working on its mobile card reader, with several reports over the last year pointing to the idea. Before Sunday, the most recent of these came from Bloomberg last month It said that according to its sources inside Lab126 – an Amazon subsidiary that focuses on hardware development – the company is working on “a credit-card reading device similar to Square.”

The original Square reader launched in 2010. The brainchild of Twitter co-creator Jack Dorsey, the system is designed to offer a quick and simple method for accepting card payments using a small device – the reader – attached to a smartphone or tablet, making it an ideal tool for small businesses and retailers.

We’ve reached out to Amazon asking for confirmation that it’s prepping a reader for imminent release, and will update when we hear back.

Topics

Amazon

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps

The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Mobile

The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far

Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Mobile

Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look

Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.