Amazon has made its widely anticipated move into the crowded mPOS market, launching its dongle and app-based contender with an aggressive pricing strategy that undercuts both Square and PayPal.
Amazon Local Register consists of an app and a $10 card swipe reader that plugs into mobile phones and tablets. The system works with iOS devices, some Android handsets and Amazon's own Fire hardware.
Retailers that sign up by the end of October will pay just 1.75% per swipe until the end of 2015, after which the price goes up to 2.5% - still less than the 2.75% charged by Square and 2.7% PayPal Here users pay.
Like Square and PayPal, the Amazon Local Register app also provides analytics, letting businesses track their inventory and sales.
Amazon has long been expected to launch an mPOS service. Last year it bought Francisco-based mobile commerce outfit GoPago to help it replicate its huge online success in the bricks-and-mortar world.