On Tuesday, T-Mobile USA proclaimed that it’s continuing to put its money where it’s mouth is by reiterating a commitment to small business.
T-Mobile is becoming the first wireless carrier to offer Square credit card readers in select retail stores.
“When T-Mobile’s fastest 4G smartphones running on America’s Largest 4G Network are combined with Square,” the carrier says, “small businesses can accept credit card payments in the U.S. nearly anywhere, anytime, with the money from transactions sent for deposit into their bank accounts the next business day.”
For T-Mobile, of course, the timing couldn’t be better, as the latest stats show mobile payments are gaining in traction and popularity across the U.S. and abroad.
Investment bank Barclays Capital estimates that U.S. mobile commerce sales hit $5.3 billion in 2011, up 83 percent from 2010.
For the time being, however, more than 26 million small businesses still do not accept credit card payment.
“The availability of Square card readers as an accessory in T-Mobile retail stores will make it easy for many small businesses to accept credit card payments for the first time,” the carrier said this morning. “The success of our small business customers is important to us. Formerly ‘cash only’ small businesses can now simply and cost-effectively accept credit cards with their smartphone using Square, giving them an easy path to growth,” said Matt Millen, vice president of small and medium business sales at T-Mobile. “As these businesses evaluate their wireless needs, T-Mobile is committed to providing quality of service, cost savings and connectivity that are a requirement for their success.”
