Android users can now make hands-free payments with Pay With Square for the first time. An earlier version of Card Case for Android didn't have geo-fencing, which meant you had to press a button to open a tab instead of just letting it work on its own from your pocket or purse. The app also now has a Yelp-like feature that lets you recommend merchants you like to friends via SMS, Twitter or email. Other new features include a search bar and map view. (To see screenshots of the new app, click on the gallery below.)
Megan Quinn, director of products for Square, says the company isn't trying to compete with Yelp. "We're focused on forging meaningful relationships between customers and merchants," she says. About 75,000 merchants are listed in the Square directory.
Known primarily for its credit card-swiping tool for merchants, Square introduced Card Case last May. The app lets users access a merchant's menu of products, which is updated in real time. It also highlights the best-selling items in store. The customer can use the app to effectively put purchases on their tab. In practice, that means customers can buy stuff from participating stores merely by using their name.