iZettle, Europe’s answer to Square is finally opening up for Android users in a limited beta in Sweden. This means that more of the mobile market could be using card payment attachments for transactions.
Where Square makes use of the magnetic strips on payment cards, iZettle’s focus is on the chip and signature system which is more common in Europe.
According to the company blog this morning, iZettle is partnering with Samsung for this round of tests.
Today we can finally announce that we are partnering with Samsung to make iZettle available for Android in a limited beta in Sweden. For now, iZettle for Android is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S II, S III, and Note models. If you’re the owner of one of these models and would like to be a beta tester, you’ll be happy to hear that we’re handing out 500 free chip-card readers to lucky Android users. Yay!
To make use of the beta system, users in Sweden can download the iZettle app from Samsung Apps, create an iZettle account and request an Android chip-card reader. With a bit of luck, you could be one of the beta testers chosen for this particular run.
Don’t fret if you’re keen to try the Android reader on other devices, iZettle says that there are plans afoot to spread the love:
As for the rest of you Android owners, hang in there! You haven’t been forgotten. We’re of course working on extending the support for additional Android devices and to bring iZettle for Android to all our other countries as well. Have no doubt; we’ll let you know as soon as we’re ready for you.
The company recently shipped 3,000 iOS card readers to UK testers and more importantly, invited SMBs to check out the system for possible adoption.
Based in Sweden, iZettle’s first service was applied to the iPhone and iPad apps. The company was founded in 2010 but Jacob de Geer and Magnus Nilsson, later picking up funding from Creandum, Greylock Partners, Northzone, MasterCard and Index Ventures.
Though it might be some time until mobile card readers are ubiquitous, the careful release and development of products like the iZettle unit help to push these ideas forward. The better the testing goes, the more chance there is that small businesses and independent retailers can provide customers with a smart way to pay by card.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.