First Data Expands Clover To Germany And Austria

To help business owners maximize efficiency and engage customers, First Data launched Clover Mini and Clover Flex in Germany and Austria. The smart terminals are the first of their kind offered to businesses in those countries, the company said in an announcement.

Both products can accept PIN or signature entry, NFC, EMV and magnetic stripe transactions. While the devices can be integrated with multiple Clover solutions, they can also be used as standalone devices – and both have a variety of retail applications.

“While powering businesses that range from coffee shops to major sports arenas, we’ve watched the Clover platform grow rapidly across the U.S. and the U.K.,” Michael Neborak, executive vice president, head of the EMEA region at First Data, said in the announcement. “Today we are delighted to launch two of Clover’s most popular solutions in Germany and Austria, making the next generation of payments technology available to our clients.”

To manage their businesses in real time, merchants using the devices can access an online backend portal from a smartphone, tablet or computer. The portal allows the merchants to monitor transaction status, view receipts in an online archive and make configuration changes remotely.

Both Clover Mini and Clover Flex also allow merchants to access the Clover App Market, which features applications built by third-party developers. Clover’s platform also allows simple integration with software providers, such as independent software vendors, value-added resellers, software developers and system integrators.

The Clover Mini features a front-facing camera that enables barcode and QR code reading; connectivity to Wi-Fi, 3G or Ethernet; a 7″ antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass display screen; and a touchscreen PIN entry for card payment transactions.

And, as the Clover Flex is geared toward mobile applications, it can be used as a handheld device. It comes equipped with a built-in receipt printer and a lithium-ion battery that can support up to eight hours of on a single charge, among other features.