The service, already available for Apple device users since last year, is now widening its reach.
Stripe has announced that it is expanding its Tap to Pay mobile payments feature to Android devices that are enabled with near field communication (NFC) technology.
The financial services company was the first company to become a Tap to Pay partner with Apple.
The partnership between Apple and Stripe made it possible for any NFC enabled Apple device – from the iPhone to the Apple Watch – into a device that can be used to complete mobile payments transactions with any tap terminal.
This year, Stripe is taking that service to the next level as it has launched the use of the Stripe Terminal, which makes it possible to receive in-person Tap to Pay transactions on NFC-enabled Android devices as well.
This makes it possible to receive transactions using Google Pay, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, other credit and debit cards, and will integrate with third-party merchant platforms that would otherwise require bridging via various small business community branches, such as Squire, GiveTab, Oddle, and Fareharbor.
Tap to Pay mobile payments is already live in six markets around the world, including the United States.
The Tap to Pay service has been rolled out in the US, as well as the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. That said, Stripe has no intention to stop there. It will also expand into a number of other countries, though it has yet to announce any specific locations or dates.
Still, the initial six countries offer a considerable opportunity, as they have a collective 225 million Android device users and a broad range of small businesses that might otherwise hesitate to step into contactless payments should they need to purchase expensive hardware to do so.
“Stripe’s launch of Tap to Pay on Android puts contactless payments hardware into the pockets of millions of businesses around the world. Now any business can set up in-person checkout in minutes,” explained Stripe Terminal business lead John Affaki in a recent statement.
The partnership places the spotlight on Stripe’s strategy to pick up the rate of growth for transactions, revenue, and then profit through its mobile payments platform.
