The Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader is a modular solution that allows the reader to be detached from its base so merchants can handle Card swipes from any angle. To dock, the reader connects to the base via micro USB, but Shopify said that the reader itself could handle an entire week's worth of transactions before needing to be docked and charged. Different mounting accessories beyond the simple dock sold at launch are said to be coming in the future.
â??What people forget is that itâ??s **t just the merchant thatâ??s touching the hardware, like a cash register,â?* Shopify VP of Product Satish Kanwar said. â??When it comes to a Card Reader, itâ??s the shopper thatâ??s interacting with the device and inputting their Card as well. What we realized is that itâ??s really hard to get a good balance of good quality, versatility and something that provides that delightful experience in something thatâ??s also affordable.â?*
Merchants interested can pre-order the device today, and the launch window is currently predicted as sometime in June. There's also a 14 day Free trial for those who sign up for pre-orders.