The service is currently targeted to customers with an iPhone. VeriFone’s card reader slips over the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

“Our strategy is to provide the Canadian market with access to the same product available in the U.S. – a card encryption sleeve and software that enables use of iPhone 3G/3GS as a secure card transaction system that is ideal for businesses on the go,” said Pete Bartolik, spokesman for VeriFone, San Jose, CA.

“We’re looking to primarily target micro-merchants who want to accept card payments instead of checks, cash or manually entered credit card numbers,” he said. “They could be home-oriented services such as plumbers, photographers, home party organizers, roofers or musicians selling their own CDs.”

VeriFone is a worldwide provider of electronic payment services such as the point-of sale-merchant-operated and consumer-facing self-service payment systems.

Payments card reader
The card reader lets businesses with new or existing merchant accounts qualify for lower-cost card present transaction fees.

Currently, the service incorporates a secure mag-stripe card encryption reader for iPhone.

Here is a screen grab of the service:

Additionally, an English-language version of the Payware mobile application for Canada is available.

A French version is planned for later this year.

“VeriFone has extensively marketed this product in the U.S. and will be working with Global Payments to educate the Canadian market to the benefits of this system,” Mr. Bartolik said.

Mobile transactions
Details for all payment transactions are available in real-time within the merchant portal on the payment gateway.

The service also lets businesses consolidate payment reporting from multiple Payware-equipped iPhones.

“We have indicated plans to develop for the Android, BlackBerry, Windows phone platforms but have not made any specific announcements to date,” Mr. Bartolik said. 

Final Take
Rimma Kats, editorial assistant at Mobile Commerce Daily, New York