Dive Brief:

• First Data is releasing a tablet device that will accept most payment types, including checks, EMV and magnetic stripe credit cards, and mobile payments from systems such as Apple Pay and Android Pay. 
• The seven-inch Clover Mini tablet’s dock is equipped with with a receipt printer and a camera for scanning QR codes and checks. 
• Payments companies are racing to assist small businesses in preparing for the conversion to EMV card payments in October. 

Dive Insight:

Leading payments processor First Data is going up against younger startups such as Square, Shopkeep, and Poynt with the Clover Mini, a device equipped to take virtually any kind of payment. The seven-inch tablet terminal handles checks, magnetic and chip-and-PIN cards, and mobile payment systems, and includes a receipt printer.

The company hopes to capture more business from small- to medium-sized companies with the Clover Mini ahead of the nationwide deadline for conversion to EMV cards in October. With its cross-platform capabilities, however, the Clover Mini may also aid consumers in making the shift to mobile wallets.