Out with the old and in with the new. That’s how Square is starting the week as it pulls one app from the App Store and replaces it with another. Square Wallet, the commerce company’s not-so-popular mobile payment app, is no longer available on the App Store as the company begins to promote its new mobile payment app called Square Order.
Although Square Wallet boasted support for “thousands of neighborhood businesses” including a deal with Starbucks, it never really felt like its presence was really promoted nor was it more convenient than traditional payment methods. In the case of Starbucks, its support came after the coffee company’s own smartphone app included mobile payments including support for Apple’s Passbook system…
As for what’s new, Square has already introduced a new smartphone mobile payment app on the App Store called Square Order. The idea is you can place orders from your smartphone before arriving at your favorite deli or coffee shop and skip the line when you arrive as you’ve already paid.
The concept mirrors restaurant-specific efforts by chains such as Chipotle which offer a similar experience with their own apps. Square Order, however, will likely be targeted toward local small businesses creating a go-to platform for hosting their menus and accepting payments in a new way.
Support for Square Order is currently limited to two major US cities at launch: San Francisco and New York City.
Square Order joins Square’s primary app as well as Square Cash on the App Store.
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Pretty dumb. There are already so many competing apps like this out there already. But perhaps they’ve seen the writing on the wall that much bigger players are going to own mobile payment in the not so distant future.
What other competing apps are there? I can only name one or two.
I think Mark Eissler is right. There may not be many known major app builders but there are some companies building similar apps in-house, for example, Commonwealth Bank Australia has one, including their own device thats very similar to square and the paypal one, and apparently other Australian banks will follow suit soon
Do you not understand Apple? Despite this article being about Square, your comment flies in the face of how Apple innovates, designs and sells. Apple is never first to market with new technologies. They, rather, perfect them – so there are plenty of competitors already in the market – and that never stops them. So why should it stop Square. Maybe they’ve perfected it. Who are you to say.
I just don’t think having the point of sale system be the app is going to work in the long run. Zac, as you point out bigger chains like Chipotle do well with their individual apps. Small businesses will find success by banding together to meet a niche. These apps will build a brand within a brand or a community. The Coffee Button app, with a focus on independent coffee shops and bistros is a much better attempt to provide a high quality and affordable app that covers a niche. CUPS – Unlimited Coffee is another that is innovating in that space. What consumer wants an app aligned with a general purpose point of sale system? It makes sense for paying for something. It does not make sense as the interface to the store. Am I going to need a Mircos app and I Quickbook wallet too in the future?