I was late to the mobile payments (MP) game. Having seen it in action from friends using Tabbed Out, a bar and restaurant MP app whose offices are in Austin, I decided to try it out myself while at a happy hour recently.
And, it was everything you could expect.
“You won’t have to ever talk to me again about your tab,” said the bartender at Shangri-La.
OK, so that gets rid of the most anxiety-driven part of the purchase process. Seriously, the worst thing one goes through at a restaurant is waiting for the check. Waiters know it. Customers know it. The quality of the experience lies within that moment. And, I don’t have to awkwardly flag down the bartender.
So, enters Square.
With the rename of Card Case, which in my opinion was horrible branding, to Pay with Square, the MP game just got a little better.
The difference I see is that Pay with Square comes with all of the bang that one gets out of location-based rewards. Yes, that means Facebook Deals, Foursquare, et al., just saw a little competition as well.
Things to watch out for with MP, Square, and its future:
- Their evangelization team and its ethos are perfect for small businesses. And, even big business.
- The check-in process will eventually be linked to transactions.
- Ventures into local currencies: a long shot, but something I’d like to see.
- “Leave the wallet at home.”
- Mobile payment apps for different industries might prop up.
