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Intuit unveils mobile phone credit card processing

Chances are you’ve seen wireless payment terminals, those handheld devices being used by the clerk at the Apple Store or the flight attendant who pours a cocktail at 35,000 feet. The devices allow for instant payments to be processed simply by swiping a credit card into it.
Written by Sam Diaz, Inactive

Chances are you’ve seen wireless payment terminals, those handheld devices being used by the clerk at the Apple Store or the flight attendant who pours a cocktail at 35,000 feet. The devices allow for instant payments to be processed simply by swiping a credit card into it.

Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks software for small businesses, is announcing a new service today, called Intuit GoPayment, that will put credit-card processing technology into most cell phones, paving the way for electricians, tow-truck drivers or any other mobile workers who normally depend on sending a bill, collecting a check or sticking to a cash-only model to collect immediate payment.

But the system does more than just allow mobile workers to collect payment. It also allows users to tap back into their Quickbooks accounts to input different types of information, such as invoicing or estimate information and synchronize it with the Quickbooks data back at the home office.

In some cases, that involves a mobile Web connection. But the company said that it’s also enabling other features with familiar tools such as SMS text messaging to quickly look up a quick price or maybe estimated delivery day, information that might be found in Quickbooks.

The new service is part of Intuit’s mobile strategy for small businesses. A survey by the company found that overdue payments in the Account Receivables file is a growing concern. In addition, nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they saw an increase in sales after giving customers the option to pay by credit card.

The company is also offering optional Bluetooth equipment that will connect to cell phones wirelessly, allowing users to swipe a credit card, instead of just inputting in the information, and even print a receipt.

Also see: Reuters: Intuit results beat expectations, shares rise

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