Amazon moves in-store with POS program

An example shot of how the Amazon Local Register appears on smartphones and tablets.Seattle--Amazon is carving out its own space in the brick-and-mortar world with the introduction of a new point-of-sale solution for retailers that accepts credit or debit cards through a smartphone or tablet.

Called “Amazon Local Register,” the credit card reader and mobile application has three steps: users create an account on localregister.amazon.com, purchase the $10 card reader, and download the free mobile app from the Amazon AppStore, Apple App Store or Google Play. 

Amazon’s card reader and app are compatible with a variety of smartphones and tablets, including Apple devices running iOS7, Kindle Fire tablets and select Android phones. The Amazon Local Register accepts all major credit and debit cards for a low, flat rate with no hidden fees, Amazon said, and no long-term contracts.

Money from transactions can be deposited directly into a bank account within one business day, or spent on Amazon.com within minutes. 

“We want to make accepting payments so easy and inexpensive that it no longer gets in the way of a business owner doing what they love--serving their customers and growing their business,” said Matt Swann, vice president of Amazon Local Commerce.

The app also offers business tracking tools: in-app reporting will enable a business to quickly check bottom-line performance, sales trends, peak sales times and other statistics. The reports are accessible from smartphones or tablets and are password protected.

Amazon Local Register will give the company “crucial” data on how American consumers shop offline, Reuters reported, noting that U.S. government data shows that more than 90 percent of retail sales in the country still take place in physical stores.

This brick-and-mortar shopping information could potentially benefit the retail giant, which reported $126 million in losses for the second quarter and expectations that the number would only grow. Already offering competitive pricing and fast delivery, tapping into the physical world seems to be what the company is reaching toward.

RELATED CONTENT: What’s ailing the Internet giants

Amazon is hoping to “court” small brick-and-mortar businesses, in part, by charging lower fees than other programs, Reuters said. For customers who sign up for Amazon Local Register before Oct. 31, the company is offering a promotional rate of 1.75 percent per card swipe on all major credit and debit cards until Jan. 1, 2016. Customers who sign up after Oct. 31