Square

Square Cash app updated to allow you to send money via Apple Watch

Square updated its Square Cash mobile app today, bringing the iOS client to version 2.8. The release brings about full support for the Apple Watch, allowing users to send money to your friends, family or anyone nearby with just a few simple taps.

For those unfamiliar with Square Cash, it’s pitched as one of the easiest ways to send and receive money. It’s free for consumers and setup only takes a minute to link up a credit or debit card. Plus, all transactions are protected by 128-bit encryption.

Square previews new contactless card reader with Apple Pay compatibility

Square, a mobile payment startup founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, received an important mention during this morning’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote talk.

In going through a laundry list of new Apple Pay features, an Apple executive said even more small businesses will be able to accept Apple Pay using a new contactless card reader by Square which plays nice with Apple Pay.

Soon after the even has wrapped up, Square followed up with additional details about the forthcoming device.

Square’s new Caviar app lets you order food from top-rated eateries

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s mobile payment startup, Square, earlier this year purchased Caviar, a food delivery service, for a reported $90 million. On Thursday, the company released the official Caviar iOS app in the App Store.

Featuring crisp dish photos, real-time tracking of your order from counter-to-door and more, Caviar makes it easy to order food from your favorite local restaurants right to your door, from the palm of your hand using your iPhone or iPad.

Square confirms adding Apple Pay support in 2015

Square, the increasingly popular mobile payment and processing firm, is going to support Apple Pay soon. That’s the gist of a comment CEO Jack Dorsey (who co-founded Twitter) made speaking with CNN Money. Apple Pay integration in the Square Reader will require a new hardware iteration of the accessory with built-in NFC circuitry.

Apple Pay, which also relies on NFC, will become available as an option for Square users sometime in 2015.

Snapchat app updated with support for new Snapcash service

Snapchat updated its iOS client today, bringing the app to version 8. The update activates the company’s new ‘Snapcash’ money transfer service, which it announced yesterday, that allows users to quickly send money to one another by simply sending a message.

Snapcash is a collaborative project between Snapchat and Square, built using the SquareCash concept. SquareCash allows users to send money via email, text message and Bluetooth with little friction, so it’s not hard to see how they made the jump to Snapchat.

Snapchat and Square launch Snapcash money transfer service

Snapchat, the popular ephemeral photo messaging application, on Monday said it’s partnered with Square, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s mobile payments startup, on a new service allowing Snapchat users to send and receive money.

Dubbed Snapcash and billed as the first Snapchat product created in partnership with another company, it’s simple and easy to use just like Square’s SquareCash service.

Square refreshes Cash for iPhone with Bluetooth money transfer ability

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s mobile payments startup, Square, on Tuesday issued a nice update to its free Cash for iPhone software which now allows you to transfer money via short-range Bluetooth networking using a new “Nearby Payments” feature.

This is in addition to the ability to send money via text message, email or mobile phone numbers (for free), a feature the startup added to the Cash app in late-August 2014. This release of Cash also features the ability to quickly approve or decline money requests with actionable push notifications and contains other improvements and bug fixes.

Square Cash is a free download from the App Store.

Apple said to have held talks with Square regarding acquisition

Before raising its latest $100 million in funding, Square was in talks with Apple regarding a possible acquisition, reports TechCrunch this afternoon. The outlet says that the two companies held discussions briefly, but the conversation quickly ended when their final numbers didn’t match up.

Apparently Apple was willing to pay around $3 billion for the mobile payments company, about 30% over its value. TechCrunch even claims that the Cupertino firm showed Square hardware it was working on that would compete directly with its point-of-sale tools, but the company declined.

Square and PayPal said to be working with Apple on mobile payments

In a last-minute scoop, Bank Innovation reports that it has learned that both Square and PayPal have been working with Apple on its mobile payment solution. Sources tell the site that both companies have been aware of Apple’s so-called ‘iWallet’ payments initiative for a while now, and are updating their services to support it.

You can now send money via text message for free with Square Cash

Square has released a big update for its Cash app this afternoon, bringing it to version 2.0. The app, first released in October of last year, facilitates the quick transfer of money from one user to another via e-mail, and today’s update makes the process even faster.

The UI for sending and contact screens has been optimized in Square Cash 2.0, making it easier to send money, and you can also now add notes to your payments. But perhaps the biggest addition in today’s update is the ability to send cash to anyone via text message.

Square reportedly in talks to sell after growing losses, held ‘informal talks’ with Apple

Mobile payments startup Square is looking to sell its business, following growing losses and shrinking cash reserves, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Square, founded by Twitter’s Jack Dorsey in 2009, makes software, hardware products, and services, including Square Register and Square Wallet, for customers to pay merchants in an easier way.

Square has discussed an acquisition with Google in 2014, according to the report, with prior talks dating back to 2012. Additionally, Apple is said to have held informal talks with Square about a deal, interesting given the mobile payment rumors that have been circulating the Cupertino-based company. 

Google wants to buy mobile payment startup Square, but CEO wants to sell out to Apple

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s other business venture, the mobile payment startup Square, has a cozy relationship with Apple.

As a case in point, not only does Square develop for iOS first, Apple itself is happy to carry Square’s $9.95 credit card reader for the iPhone and iPad and the $99.95 Square Stand for iPad on its web store.

Moreover, some of Square’s talent comes straight from Apple, including director of engineering for the iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories, Jesse Dorogusker, who recently left the company to join Square.

After allowing Google to buy smart thermostat and smoke detector maker Nest Labs back in January, pundits have observed that Apple should be wise enough to avoid repeating the same mistake twice. Be that as it may, Apple is said to have mulled an acquisition offer for Square.

The possibility of such a deal has been floated on Wednesday as rumors of both Apple and Google discussing a possible acquisition with Square continue to persist. Although CEO Jack Dorsey would reportedly prefer selling the company to Apple, not Google, a deal with Apple is wishful thinking for now…