Difference between revisions of "Credit Card Processor"

Revision as of 00:07, 18 November 2010

Overview

Old Town Coffee doesn't take credit cards, which causes customers unplanned visits to ATMs. Going to see if a G1 can be repurposed with a Squareup.com reader to be a credit card acceptor. If it works maybe Makers Local can get them to allow customers the option to pay an extra amount to use their credit card, and some of the profits will go to our favorite charity.

Challenges

• Need to read over terms of service to make sure this is on the up and up with Squareup.com
• If it works, need to make sure the ML256 board is cool putting our name on it.
• Square App is designed to work on only certain phones running Android 2.1+. No Guarantee that once a G1 is running 2.1 that it will work
• G1 does uses USBext for sound. Square readers are designed to plug directly into a standard audio jack. Don't know much about the extra pins on this connection, but I do have a converter cable for the G1. maybe it will work, dunno
• Haven't asked Olde Town about whether they would even want this. Was hoping to make a working model before crossing that bridge, and then see if they want it. Olde Town may have other reasons than credit card processing being an extra expenditure for not already offering this to their customers.
• Wifi will need to be availble - Challenge met, Olde Town has Wifi
  • This should probably be over an encrypted connection, may need to add another router to the system for the added security.
• These square may have been designed for 5-6 transaction a day. Not 30. Dongle may wear out faster than desired.

Benefits

• Make credit card processing accessible to customers (or members of Makers Local if they don't want it)
• Use as a fund raiser for makers local