Many months ago, Square - a company that helps merchants do their business by providing business tools and equipment to take payments, etc. - made waves with their combination Square Reader and free Square Register App, which offers merchants an easy way to accept credit card payments via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets by plugging a tiny card reader to the phone's headphone port and then running the app. However, it's not been possible to keep the iPhone in a case while using the Reader as no case has room to accommodate it - until now, that is.
Revealed today at CES 2014, Griffin's $19.99 "Merchant case" is a protective iPhone Case that incorporates a compartment on the back for storing the detachable Square Reader when you're not using it; and a moulded slot at the bottom to insert the Reader while you are, allowing you to keep the case on and keep the Square Register app running - so you can take card payments while keeping the phone safely protected. Griffin state it is the "first protective iPhone case optimised for Square"; and note the case also features "a groove in the bottom of the case [that] aligns with the Square Reader to guide a credit card to an easy, consistent swipe time after time."
The Merchant Case + Square Reader is available to order now at Griffin's online store; and plans to ship in the next two weeks. Its debut coincides with Square's launch of Works with Square, a program that allows developers to build accessories for Square businesses.
