Apple has acquired a startup, Mobeewave Inc., that developed technology to turn iPhones into mobile payment terminals, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Citing people familiar with the matter, today’s report says the deal was worth around $100 million.
Apple confirmed the deal with its standard statement about its acquisition strategy. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” an Apple spokesman told Bloomberg. The company did not confirm the reported $100 million acquisition price.
Mobeewave bills its technology as a way to seamlessly accept credit card payments “with a tap on your phone.” What this means is that a shopper could simply tap their credit card or smartphone on the back of the smartphone to process a payment. The system works via an app from Mobeewave as well as NFC technology.
The demonstration on the Moobeewave website shows the process in three steps:
- Step one: Input the transaction amount
- Step two: Tap the client’s card onto the back of your device
- Step three: Payment is processed on your device
There are a variety of ways Apple could incorporate this technology into the iPhone or other products. This feature could be a way for Apple to expand its Apple Pay platform and compete with Square’s point of sale platform. Furthermore, Apple Card debuted last year, and Mobeewave’s technology could integrate into that ecosystem, including the Apple Wallet app.
The news of the Mobeewave acquisition comes on the same day as Apple CEO Tim Cook talked about Apple’s strategy for acquiring other companies. In an effort to differentiate Apple from other tech companies that might focus on acquiring potential competitors, Cook emphasized that Apple acquires a company to eventually implement its technology into the iPhone.
