Indian e-commerce Unicorn Flipkart’s digital wallet Phone Pe has made a bold move to challenge Paytm, by launching a unique PoS(Point of Sale) device- which looks like a small calculator backed with Bluetooth technology as a payments solution for merchants.
The device has several features that makes it fit for a Indian merchants. Priced at $10(around Rs 650), it can run for months, powered on a AA battery and relying on nothing the consumer’s smartphone data connection.
“It looks and feels and acts like a calculator, it costs less than $10 (nearly ₹650) and it is a plug and play product,” Phone Pe CEO Sameer Nigam told reporters at a conference in Bengaluru, launching the device.
“Most payment solutions today do not address the basic problems. Merchants need a durable, cheap and simple device that is technology-light and comfortable to use,” he added.
The device for now will be launched across Bengaluru and will be distributed to 5000 merchants to devise a rollout strategy based on their feedbacks.
Nigam aims to address about 50 million small shopkeepers and kirana store owners, along with the bigger merchants. “The last-mile delivery personnel of Flipkart’s logistics arm, eKart, will also be part of the pilot.”
About the device
The handheld device resembles a calculator with few additional keys, as visible in the image. It can be connected remotely to a smartphone via bluetooth and the transaction can be initiated using the app. The device also provides ‘Scan and Pay’ option, along with UPI-based Phone Pe platform.
It does not require internet connection and works on a AA battery. The solution provides several layers of security to ensure safe transactions.