Square is available in Japan with the support and partnership of Sumitomo Mitsui Card Corporation (SMCC). Responsible for introducing Visa to Japan, SMCC is widely recognized and respected for its ability to provide a wide range of solutions, including a comprehensive and highly secure credit card and payment solution.

This marks the first international expansion for Square outside of North America, where they service over 4 million individuals and businesses. Square says that they are now processing over $15 billion in payments annually.

And like in North America, Square will take a 3.25% cut of transactions in Japan.

Here’s what Square co-founder and CEO, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, had to say about the move:

“I am honored to introduce Square to a country with a rich history of design, innovation and tradition. Square shares the same values and attention to detail in our products. Our tools are made to enable business owners to create a delightful, seamless experience for their customers. I look forward to Square assisting in Japan’s continued economic growth and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

Also, he’s been Vining the news:

Square: now available in Japan. squareup.com/jp vine.co/v/b9YgW3W6Wj7

— Jack Dorsey (@jack) May 23, 2013

You can check out Square Japan here.

That’s the brief message that Square is displaying on a new page for Square Cash. It looks like Square is about launch a new money transfer feature.

“Square Cash is the easiest way to send money to anyone, using just email and your debit card,” says Square on the Square Cash about page. Square explains the simple mechanics for Square Cash as such: all you have do do is send an email with the recipient’s email address, cc pay@square.com, enter a dollar amount in the subject line, and send away.

“You’ll get a receipt each time you send money. You have the ability to cancel the payment by clicking a link within the confirmation email you receive. Keep in mind that you can only cancel a payment if it hasn’t yet been redeemed by your recipient,” says Square.

It’ll cost the sender $0.50 for each payment sent, and it will cost the recipient nothing. Recipients only need to link their debit accounts upon receiving a payment. Funds will be directly deposited within 48 hours.

Currently, Square Cash is an invitation-only service, but you can’t even sign up yet. It appears that Square is simply picking some early testers.

“We’re excited to share Square Cash with our friends. We’ll continue to invite others to try it out in the coming weeks,” a Square spokesperson told TechCrunch.

It’s called the Square Stand, and it turns your iPad into a true point of sale system.

“Local business owners take as a given that they need an ugly, slow, expensive, and complicated point of sale system cluttering their counter,” said Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Square. “Square Stand is elegant, fast, affordable, and easy to use. Whether you’re selling cupcakes, cardigans, or cappuccinos, running your business with Square has never been easier.”

Square Stand lets you attach your iPad 2 or 3 (versions with lighting connectors coming soon) to a adjustable stand, complete with an attached card reader. This, of course, replaces the old method of attached the smaller Square Reader to your iPad. The Stand can be secured to your countertop, and when it is all said and done it becomes a more secure, permanent, and faster POS system for your business – at least according to Square. But there’s no arguing that this new piece of hardware would make processing a high volume of transactions much less of a headache.

Ready to use in minutes, Square Stand works with Square Register, the free point of sale application, and gives merchants access to real-time analytics, robust reporting, and a delightful experience for their customers. Square Stand features an integrated card reader that keeps information secure from swipe to payment, and easily connects to the hardware accessories businesses need, including a receipt printer, kitchen printer, cash drawer, and barcode scanner.

Square Stand will run you $299. You can pre-order it starting today, and it will be available to purchase in Best Buys on July 8th.

Last month, Square launched a big update to Square Register to make it much more useful to restaurants.

“There are already tens of thousands of merchants in the food industry are increasingly adopting Square for its simple interface, smart analytics, continuous updates, and low processing fees,” says Square.

And with that, the’ve just launched an update to Square Register that helps “quick-serve” restaurants better run their kitchens.

First off, food merchants can now utilize new order modifiers. “Orders are recorded more accurately and communication with the kitchen is faster, creating a seamless experience on both sides of the counter,” says Square.

Plus, custom tickets are now available, giving kitchens a better way to make sure special orders are being processed correctly.

“In an industry where speed, accuracy, and a great customer experience are essential to success, Square Register gives quick serve restaurants tools that are powerful, intuitive, and affordable,” said Square co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey. “Square is focused on connecting businesses with customers and now, more than ever, merchants can concentrate on providing great food for their customers.”

Back in February, Square unveiled a new “business in a box” package deal point of sale system. For $299, you can get two Square Readers, an iPad stand, and a cash drawer. Of course, Square Register has the ability to wirelessly print receipts and tickets, but that hardware will cost you extra.

You can watch the full interview below, in which Dorsey talks Twitter, Square, and his desire to be the mayor of New York City someday.

In a cease and desist order sent to Square, the Illinois department says that Square is “engaged in the business of transmitting money in Illinois, as defined by the Act, without the required license.”

The “act” that they refer to is the state’s “Transmitters of Money Act,” which says that:

No person may engage in this State in the business of selling or issuing payment instruments, transmitting money, or exchanging, for compensation, payment instruments or money of the United States government or a foreign government to or from money of another government without first obtaining a license under this Act.

The act clarifies that transmitting money means “the transmission of money by any means, including transmissions to or from locations within the United States or to and from locations outside of the United States by payment instrument, facsimile or electronic transfer, or otherwise, and includes bill payment services.”

Square has responded, saying,

“We’ve been in close contact with the Illinois Division of Financial Institutions for several months and are addressing their concerns.”

Far from an expert in legal affairs, I won’t attempt to make any additional comments about the order other than the fact that it looks like Square simply needs to obtain a license.

[TechCrunch]

It’s called the “Business in a Box” and according to Square is “all the hardware you need to run Square Register on your counter.”

For $299, you’ll receive two Square Readers, a Heckler Design WindFall iPad Stand, and an APG Vasario 1616 Cash Drawer. That’s the paperless route. If you want to add the receipt printer to your package, it will force the price up to $599.

Of course, everything works wirelessly with Square Register.

“Historically, business owners were forced to piece together multiple hardware components from various manufacturers, manage complicated contracts and pricing structures, and pay for expensive software licensing and service plans. Now, they can be up and running with Square Register in minutes,” says Square.

It’s an entire point of sale system in one box. The simplicity of it all is exactly what Square is marketing. Why mess around with traditional POS systems or try to piece the parts together yourself when you can get your iPad stand and cash register straight from Square? That’s the idea here.

Additionally, Square announced on Wednesday that it is now working with Angie’s List so that merchants can enable mobile payments as part of Angie’s List’s Business Center mobile app.

“Working with Square will help provide happier transactions for our members and service companies,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “We’re excited to work with Square because they understand what small businesses need to succeed.”

“Whether on site or at a customer’s home, people will now have a fast, reliable way to accept payments. With Square, Angie’s List businesses can focus their time and energy on what really matters—doing great work,” said Square co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey. “We’re proud to work with Angie’s List to make life easier for businesses of all sizes.”

The Business Center app is currently only available on iOS.

Square and Starbucks are further bolstering their relationship, building on one that already includes millions in investment and a payment option deal. Starting soon, Starbucks customers will be able to purchase Square mobile card readers at their coffee giant’s 7,000 stores.

The Square card reader normally sells for $10, but the company offers a full rebate for new Square-using businesses.

Last August, Square and Starbucks entered into a (slightly more important) partnership that saw Starbucks’ 7,000 stores offer Square as a payment option. Square now processes Starbucks’ credit and debit transactions, and customers can also use their Square Wallet (cardless app) to buy their morning cup of coffee.

Starbucks’ further investment in helping Square become the top mobile payments option in major stores around the country is no surprise considering Starbucks is a major investor in Square. Last September, Square closed a round of funding that included $25 million from Starbucks.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz also joined Square’s Board.

At the time, Square boasted that it was now processing over $8 billion in payments annually. To keep that growth, more small businesses will need to start using Square as their mobiel payments option. And getting their card readers in 7,000 of the most popular retail stores around is a pretty good start.

[via TechCrunch]

Square Wallet is the company’s app that lets users pay for things. Passbook, if you’re unfamiliar, is a feature added to the most recent version of iOS, which lets users access boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, loyalty cards, etc. from one place on their iPhone or iPod Touch.

CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted:

Follow @jack

Jack Dorsey
@jack

Treat friends and family to local favorites with Square gift cards. Easy to redeem with Wallet, Passbook, or paper. http://t.co/Mugp1sFs

 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite
1 day ago via Photos on iOS · powered by @socialditto

“I just sent my parents a gift to their favorite bookstore, Left Bank Books in St. Louis,” Dorsey said in the announcement. “It’s incredibly fun to give my friends unique and meaningful gifts, treat them to their favorite neighborhood places, all from my couch.”

Square has a quarter of a million local businesses in the U.S. accepting gift cards.