As ROAM continues to make a name for itself in the mobile POS space, the message it’s sent with its new G4X mobile card reader is clear: in this industry, compatibility is key.
PYMNTS.com spoke with Robert Stringer, vice president of client services for ROAM, to discuss ROAM’s “next generation” mobile point of sale card reader, the company’s experience in the mobile phone market and the role international acceptance plays in ROAM’s future plans.
According to Stringer, the G4X runs on all iOS devices and about 98 percent of Android devices. In addition to its magstripe capabilities, the G4X “can be ported to other payments technologies, like EMV and contactless,” to meet payments mandates in regions outside the U.S.
Stringer noted that ROAM is able to support such a broad range of devices and payments functions because of the company’s long history of making compatibility a reality for its clients.
“ROAM was founded a while ago, when feature phones were really 98 percent of all of the cellphone market. iOS was tiny, and Android didn’t even exist. And at the time, the complexity of managing all of those different devices, with the operating system as well as the hardware and the firmware, that was one of ROAMs core strengths,” Stringer said.
“And the Android market today is mirroring the feature phone market of about five years ago, with the multitude of hardware, firmware and software configurations. You can have the same phone, the Galaxy SIII for example, it works differently on each carrier. It works differently in every region of the world. So as our customers and our clients start to look at different regions, we had to make sure that our devices maintained the largest amount of compatibility in the market today.
Our commitment to solving those device issues has never wavered.”
It’s clear that just about anyone with a mobile device who wants to use the G4X can do so, but why should merchants – especially small and medium-sized ones – make the transition to this type of POS device?
One reason is security. Data is never entered into the device in an unencrypted form when transmitted through the G4X, and there are also remote “blacklisting” features available for merchants when a card or device is under suspicion of fraud.
But another huge reason merchants should have interest in mobile POS systems is even simpler to understand: it’s more efficient and has more utility than traditional payments devices.
To illustrate his point, Stringer used the example of his plumber, who Stringer introduced to the G4X when having work done on his house. Stringer explained that rather than retreating to his truck to grab a $500 card scanner, his plumber could simple pull out his phone, attach the G4X and allow his customers to pay anywhere at anytime.
“In terms of modernization, it’s a feature vs. cost function,” Stringer explained. “The G4Xs are low cost and secure, and they can replace much more expensive terminals for a mobile merchant.”
“It’s smaller, it is more convenient and it’s more cost effective for any small business.”
To hear more Stringer on the G4X’s capabilities, the evolving smartphone market and ROAM’s projects for 2013, listen to the full podcast below.
Robert Stringer
Vice President of Client Services, ROAM
Rob has been helping companies grow their top line ever since graduating from Babson with his MBA in 2002. In the four years following business school, Rob built a direct sales wine business from $0 to $10 million, personally growing the company’s sales force from 10 to 2,000 active consultants and opening up 24 new states. Up to the time he joined ROAM Data in 2009, Rob was a consultant working with his clients on customer loyalty initiatives, product development, marketing and sales. Rob has delivered his consulting engagements throughout the US and abroad. Rob brings a passion for listening to the customer to grow a business.