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Square releases Register API for Android

Square ​rolled out a similar API in March for iOS-based point-of-sale systems as part of the company's Build with Square initiative.
Written by Natalie Gagliordi, Contributor
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Square said Tuesday it is making its Register API available for Android.

The API will allow brick-and-mortar merchants to process payments through Square and use some piece of the company's hardware without having to sign up for Square's Register point-of-sale software. This is useful for businesses that may require custom POS software, Square said.

Square rolled out a similar API in March for iOS-based point-of-sale systems as part of the company's Build with Square initiative. In a nutshell, the Build with Square APIs enable small businesses (and the developers who work for the small businesses) to incorporate various aspects of the Square ecosystem into their technology stack without committing to the whole package.

For Square, the APIs reflect a broader shift taking place within the Jack Dorsey-founded company. Square initially launched in 2009 as a hardware company pushing technology to enable mobile payments, but its portfolio has broadened over the years to include a range of revenue-generating software and services.

These APIs mark a big step in the revenue department, as they could help convince larger companies, online stores and retail chains with complex software requirements to use Square as an alternative to other payments processing providers.

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