First Data unveils Clover Mini payment terminal; BofA begins roll out

Source: First Data

Unveiling the latest of its best-in-class business management tools for business owners, First Data, the global leader in payment technology and services solutions, today announced the launch of Clover Mini, the newest member of the Clover family of products.

Clover Mini redefines the payment terminal, providing business owners with an “all-in-one” solution to streamline operations, expand business and customer intelligence, and improve the customer experience, all while facilitating payments in a safe, secure environment.

“Just as the smartphone changed the lives of billions of people around the world, Clover is revolutionizing the way business owners run their companies,” said Guy Chiarello, president of First Data. “With its elegant design, ease of use, and ability to customize the user experience with the growing Clover® App Market, Clover Mini is the comprehensive solution that business owners need.”

Clover Mini meets the demands of a rapidly changing commerce marketplace, enabling merchants to accept most payment types, including swipe, PIN Debit, EMV (chip + PIN; chip + signature) and NFC transactions. Additionally, Clover Mini operates with the same power as the original Clover device, Clover Station®, in a much smaller package, meaning business owners can access the same intuitive tools without compromising on space.

Other benefits of the Clover Mini include:

  • Cloud-based, customized software allowing business owners to manage their business from any computer, tablet or mobile device
  • Multiple layers of security and data protection, including mutually-authenticated SSL/TLS solutions and the state-of-the-art, built-in TransArmor® Solution designed to protect businesses from fraud and safeguard customer data
  • Fully PCI PTS 4.0 certified, including the Secure Reading and Exchange of Data (SRED) module
  • Seven-inch Antimicrobial Corning® Gorilla® Glass screen that can display a PIN pad for debit transactions or capture signatures for credit transactions
  • A built-in printer
  • Front-facing camera that enables easy check acceptance, and barcode and QR code reading

Prior to Clover Mini’s widespread introduction, First Data initiated a pilot program to make the product available to business owners and industry analysts.

“We love the look of Clover Mini so much that it’s the first thing you see when you enter our stores – it’s eye-catching, just like our jewelry,” said Derrick Colon, Operations Manager for North America at Uno de 50, which has installed Clover Minis in 21 of its U.S. locations. “It’s also very easy to use. I tell our employees that if they can operate a tablet they’ll have no problem with Clover Mini.”

“One of the best features of Clover Mini is our customers’ reaction when they see and use it. Customers often say ‘wow’ and comment how high tech it is,” says Royce Kakar, Manager of San Anselmo Optometry in San Anselmo, CA. “People are also very impressed that we can accept EMV with Clover Mini.”

“We used to get really backed up on the weekends with customers trying to check out and pay, but now we don’t have that problem – Clover has made us so much more efficient,” said Ed Bisconti, owner of Borgata Pizza Café in Columbus, OH. “Our customers have even commented that they appreciate how secure it is.”

“With its extensive app market and sleek design, the Clover POS platform promises to do for the small business owner what the smartphone did for the consumer – solve pain points and enrich everyday experiences,” said Nikhil Joseph, Analyst, Emerging Technology Service, Mercator Advisory Group. “Whether that means enabling a restaurant owner to accept remote orders via mobile app or helping the local bike shop to track analytics and reward its most loyal customers, Clover is a versatile and innovative solution.”

As part of the Clover family, the Clover Mini provides access to the Clover App Market, which today celebrated the milestone of adding its 100th app, making it one of the largest POS app markets. Included in the App Market are two free First Data apps: Perka® Punchcard, a digital loyalty and rewards program, and Insightics™, advanced business intelligence software tailored for small businesses.

Clover Mini is the latest point-of-sale business management solution introduced by First Data. In 2013, First Data launched Clover Station, which quickly became one of the fastest-selling point-of-sale systems in the world. In 2014, First Data unveiled Clover Mobile, a high-powered portable system that enables transactions on the go, whether a business owner is accepting payments tableside or in a register line. 

Separately, Bank of America Merchant Services today launched Clover Mini, the EMV1-ready payment system developed by First Data Corporation, a global leader in payment technology.

Clover Mini, the latest addition to the Clover family of products, replaces the single-use terminal with an “all-in-one” business management system. Clover Mini is an extension of the successful Clover Station, which launched in 2013 and has since received positive feedback from business owners.

The new Clover Mini combines the reliability of a terminal coupled with the flexibility of a cloud-based system that allows merchants to select the “apps”2 to help streamline and manage business operations. Clover Mini comes in a more compact device with built-in printer.

Clover Mini offers customers the ultimate in payment flexibility, with its ability to accept a wide variety of payments options including EMV (both chip and PIN and chip and signature), NFC (Apple Pay™) transactions, cash, credit, debit, and prepaid. With its seven inch touch screen, wireless connectivity and intuitive interface, Clover Mini simplifies transactions for business owners. Merchants can rely on multiple layers of security to help protect their business including state-of-the-art TransArmor® data protection3 and mutually-authenticated SSL/TLS solutions.

“The launch of Clover Mini is a response to our small business clients, who tell us they want streamlined capability and innovation,” said Tim Tynan, CEO, Bank of America Merchant Services. “The built-in layers of security protection also give business owners peace of mind, so they can focus on what matters most, their customers and growing their business.”

Clover Mini’s EMV capability helps secure payment transactions against fraud through a transaction-unique online cryptogram. Starting in October 2015, businesses could bear the liability when credit card fraud takes place if they do not adopt the latest chip card processing technology. Small businesses that use the latest chip card processing technology can help avoid this potential risk and cost to their operations.

In addition to its EMV-ready features, Clover Mini also includes:

Integrated QR reader
On-screen PIN pad and signature capture
Front-facing camera
Fully PCI PTS 4.0 certified, including the Secure Reading and Exchange of Data (SRED) module

For merchants looking for a more portable device, Bank of America Merchant Services and First Data unveiled the Clover Mobile, also an EMV/NFC-ready smart terminal. Clover Mobile takes the functionality of Clover Station off the counter and into your business. Clover Mobile enables merchants to track inventory, manage staff, help build loyalty programs, and to help grow their businesses; all with the functionality of a smaller design that allows it to be carried anywhere a small business needs to go. Features of Clover Mobile include:

Accepted payment types: NFC, EMV, PIN / signature debit, credit, gift cards
Integrated QR reader
Connection via wireless Internet or 3G
Optional Bluetooth® printer
Optional charging/ docking stand with Ethernet connectivity

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