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Helcim Inc., a Calgary, Alberta-based payments provider, launched its Helcim Smart Terminal, which it says carries no contract or monthly fees.
The device, which uses the Android operating system, is priced at $349 (C$429) and will be available this summer. Among its technical capabilities is a built-in printer, a large display, and the ability to accept contact and contactless payments. The point-of-sale terminal, which will join the existing Helcim Card Reader, also can be used to help manage inventory and includes access for an unlimited number of employees.
Helcim, which also has a Seattle office, prices its service at 1.86% plus 8 cents for card-present transactions and 2.4% plus 25 cents for card-not-present ones. It touts no monthly fees, cancellation fees, set-up fees, or similar charges.
“Affordability is one of our core brand pillars and with every product we launch, we strive to ensure savings comes through for our merchants,” Dagan Cardinal, Helcim’s head of product, says in a statement.
The point-of-sale terminal market, especially for so-called smart devices, is highly competitive. While many of the devices use the Android operating system, many providers attempt to distinguish them via integrations and pricing. And some formerly online-only companies, like Adyen and Stripe Inc., have moved into the card-present arena.
Merchants also can sidestep purpose-made POS terminals by using Tap to Pay on iPhone or Tap to Pay on Android using iPhones or Android smart phones. This technology uses a payment app on the phone and the phone’s NFC connectivity to enable contactless payments.
