Apple Stores installing new payment tech, sources claim

Apple Stores installing new payment tech, sources claim

Apple's retail chain in the process of installing new payment technology, multiple sources with the company claim. The company's iPod touch-based sale terminals are said to have recently gone offline for an entire day, taken down in order to perform "maintenance." Apple Stores have also allegedly been doing multiple "overnights," in which workers were required to "assist in installing TBD devices" to help "as the retail segment of Apple grows."...

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This rumor was preceded by something more vague:
Apple planning 'major' product launch later this week? | iPodNN

Apple may have a "major product launch" scheduled for May 19th or shortly thereafter, a source with the company suggests. The date marks the 10th anniversary of Apple's retail stores, but some unusual preparations are said to be on the way for the weekend. A special overnight shift is expected to run from Saturday night through to mid-Sunday, for instance, with about 10 to 15 people participating at each store. This includes a mix of all "visuals" workers, a manager, a business team member, some Geniuses, a backroom worker and some general clerks.

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And this possibly being all being centered around mobile payment processing can be further bolstered by this one:

Square teases something 'in the cards' for May 23 | Electronista

Square on Tuesday gave out invitations to its first real special event. A gathering at the company's San Francisco headquarters on May 23 at 10AM local time will provide "exciting news." Few clues were given out beyond the media being asked to "see what's in the cards."

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Coincidence? I think not!

So are you guessing Apple employees will have Square payment devices on their iPhones and you can just purchase an item from the employee without going to a particular cash register? That would be kinda cool, I guess. I paid for my car's window tint that way the other day. The guy came to my house and did the job. He had an Android phone with a Square payment device. Then Square e-mailed me my receipt.

MYmacROX said:

So are you guessing Apple employees will have Square payment devices on their iPhones and you can just purchase an item from the employee without going to a particular cash register? That would be kinda cool, I guess. I paid for my car's window tint that way the other day. The guy came to my house and did the job. He had an Android phone with a Square payment device. Then Square e-mailed me my receipt.

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I believe I read some time back that they can do checkouts now with something they have attached to an iPod touch, so I'm sure this is a lot bigger. They certainly wouldn't be making such a big deal over something to make checkouts simpler in the Apple Store and only there. It's gotta be NFC or some other mobile payment method for iOS devices to be used anywhere. It may even well be a feature for the iPhone 5. I know the rumor mill is adamant that it won't be coming until the fall, but then the same rumor mill claimed the iPad 2 would be delayed, and it wasn't. So keeping fingers crossed… I'm getting antsy for an upgrade from the 3Gs!