Payment Flow using Square Credit Card Reader - square-connect

We are creating an iPad app for our restaurant so that customers can order from their table without a waiter. We would like to use Square so that the customer can swipe their credit card to make the payment. Is it possible to use the Square credit card reader to accept and process payments while keeping the order flow within our app (in other words can we accept payments via Square without using the Square POS app on the iPad)?
Thanks in advance.

It sounds like the Square Register API might be appropriate for your needs. It enables an iOS app to quickly switch to Square Register to process an in-person payment (then switch back to the original app).
Register API is available for iOS and Android. Any developer can use it: https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/register-api-overview/

Related

Create customers without creating a charge using the Square Reader SDK

I am using the Square reader SDK for react native. I've figured out how to make a charge, but what I would like to be able to do is swipe someones card and then create a customer with a stored card in square without actually creating a charge at the time of the swipe. This is for registering someone at an event so I don't want to create the charge at the door, I just want to store their card for later. I see how I can create a customer and payment source using the commerce API but not using the reader API. Does anyone know if this is currently possible and if so, how I would approach it using the reader?
There's currently not a way to do this through Reader SDK. There's no way to swipe a card without intentionally charging the card.

Getting autocode, receipt number back from the Square API

I'm developing an app that uses Square credit card processing API. In the Square web panel, after a charge I see things like "authcode" and receipt number in that interface, but I can't find where the API gives me back this data.
Also, when charging with the Square virtual terminal, I can pace a comment with the charge. When the API makes a charge that comment is set to "online transaction."
So can I have the software leave a comment with the API, and can I get the auto code and receipt numbers through the API?
Not all of the features available in Square Dashboard are available via the API at this time, though we are actively working on expanding the API capabilities, particularly around itemizations and receipts.
You can add external reference_id and note to a transaction if you want to associate some external metadata. Receipts can be retrieved with the older retrieve and list payments endpoints. See here: https://docs.connect.squareup.com/api/connect/v1/?q=receipt#datatype-payment

Is it possible to achieve my goal by using Beacons

I have a mobile IOS application which is basically group chat oriented. I was wondering if I can make it beacon-enabled app. With other words, application which can detect beacons, determine id, receive short ads etc. I am quite new to beacons, still reading a lot about it. I found this article which makes me believe that maybe it is possible to achieve my goal.
I want my app, except for its original functionality, to be able to:
Detect a beacon (even if app is in background, without the need to have been paired or whatever)
Receive simple ads by the beacon (while using the app in a certain mode, to be able to project the ads on phone's screen)
Read some real-time info(if required by the user) like: speed(if moving beacon), temperature etc.
In order to achieve all that I would like not to disturb the end user by making him download additional stuff related to the beacon. I want him to have my app and that's all.
You can monitor for beacons while your app is in the background. You can do this by using the CoreLocation Framework or by using a framework of your beacon supplier. (e.g. Estimote)
To the ads: The beacon will only deliver its pre configured ids. (UUID + Major + Minor). If you want to receive ads, you must have a Webservice that will get your beacon ids and return you the ad to display.
(If the ads never change, you can put them directly into your app without a webservice)
How you will show the ads in your app is completely open to you.
I don't really understand what you mean with real-time-info. There are beacons that also send you TLM. So you can get the temperature and the battery level of the beacon. I've never seen moving beacons or beacons that can transmit their speed.
Some useful links:
https://developer.apple.com/ibeacon/
https://xamoom.com/en/2016/07/ibeacon-for-developers/

Instant payments options in Android and iOS app

I have payoneer account and i'd like to receive payments from app into this account.
Payments are not for physical goods. They are more like app content-unblockers.
Let's focus on Android and Google Play distribution case.
I suppose, payoneer is not designed for processing quick small payments, right?
I need these:
App should be able to set price according to misc factors.
Payments should be instant without credit card entering - i guess it called "Payments from Google Wallet". E.g. if i (app user) have google account and i have payment method in Google Play, then i do not need to enter my credit card number again.
Payments should be possible independently of user location (country)
So, can I use, say, Braintree to process payments with those requirements?
Will it violate any kind of Google Play policies (the fact, that i'm processing payments not through Google)?
The same questions about iOS
For Android : You can use third party payment seamless/non-seamless as long as their sdk supports Android platform. Google doesn't stop you from choosing any payment service.
For iOS : : It's million dollar question. Always refer to latest app store review guidelines https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#purchasing-currencies
You can use third party payment gateway in iOS if you are selling physical goods/services outside of the app. For any in-app purchases you must use IAP.
For any in-app purchases if you use other purhasing mechanisms your app will be rejected.
Refer to section 3.1.1
If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than IAP.

Android support for the Square Register API?

I am in the in the process of developing point of sale applications for restaurants for both iPhone and Android. I wanted to use Square to process all the credit card sales seamlessly with my apps, but Square Register API is not available for Android.
Would Square Connect allow my app to integrate in a way where the customer's food order can be taken inside my app, and then Square automatically be launched to allow the customer to pay (pre-populating the dollar amount), and then switch back to my app after the payment is completed? Based on everything I read, Square Register can do all that (only on iPhone), but Square Connect would not be able to do this. Am I correct? Does this mean my apps won't be able to integrate with Square the way I need them to, so I will have to choose a different credit card processor to work with that does have the API functionality I need for both iPhone and Android?
Thanks!
#Stephen Barlow's answer was correct at the time, but this is no longer the case. Square announced the Register SDK for Android on May 25, 2016. Here is the blog post:
https://corner.squareup.com/2016/05/introducing-squares-register-api-for-android.html
You are correct, the Register API is iOS-only. Square currently does not provide a way for an Android application to open the Square Register app to process a payment.

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