Square took another step beyond mobile payments on Monday with the introduction of a new online appointments system for business owners.
The service, called Square Appointments, is intended to provide a simple booking experience that lets businesses manage appointments, save time and avoid losing sales from customers who may prefer booking appointments online rather than by phone.
"Some of our sellers have said that now that everything is actually going online, they are worried they are missing out on customers who are used to booking online, new customers who may not want to pick up the phone," a rep for Square told Mashable.
Just as notable as the service is the fact that Square is making it available to all businesses -- even those which don't use Square's other products. In practice, the offering might let Square broaden its customer base or perhaps create a gateway into its growing ecosystem.
"Square isn't only a mobile payments company," the rep said. "As we sit down with our sellers, we say, 'What do you need. What's the dream product?' And we race after it and try to build it."
Square is offering a 30-day free trial for the appointments service. After that, prices start at $30 a month and go up from there, depending on the size of the staff using it.