Trend #7 in my 2020 technology trends, “Apple accepts payments” has come true, enabling small businesses take contactless payments without the need to buy additional hardware or dongles.

The product comes from Samsung rather than Apple. Apple is rarely a first mover, so in hindsight I should have called the trend “Samsung accepts payments“.

Among several new features, Galaxy XCover Pro will also have Samsung POS, a mobile-based point of sale (MPOS) solution that has been approved by Visa’s Tap to Phone pilot program.

This joint solution benefits sellers by helping them stay in touch with how consumers prefer to pay and removing the need for a dedicated POS hardware with an easy software solution that is reliable, convenient and secure. Tap to Phone’s sophisticated software terminal builds on EMV chip transaction to generate the same functionality while giving peace of mind and assurance that financial data remains safe and secure. Customers will be able to make payments in seconds by simply tapping their contactless card, phone or watch to the Galaxy XCover Pro.

“The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is a robust retail POS platform for a true retail digital transformation,” said Mary Kay Bowman, Visa’s Head of Seller Solutions. “Its applications for businesses such as healthcare, airlines and restaurants are a great example of how Visa together with Samsung can democratize access to payment experiences that consumers increasingly expect, no matter where they are.”

More information is available on Samsung’s website.

Now watch the other phone vendors, including Apple, release similar functionality on their devices.