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So I take it that Japan doesn't have EMV chips in their bank cards yet? I'm curious to see how Square tackles that when they hopefully expand to Europe and Aust

by _frog 13y ago

So I take it that Japan doesn't have EMV chips in their bank cards yet? I'm curious to see how Square tackles that when they hopefully expand to Europe and Australia.

cdavid 13y ago
Many don't, and basic debit accounts don't offer 'standard' cards (VISA, etc...). Japan also has a culture of using cash everywhere (I have seen people handling the equivalent of 1000s $ in cash numerous times), and it will be interesting to see what square can do there. Interesting challenges, and definitely something that needs improvements in Japan.
- mathrawka 13y ago
  I remember one of my first experience with a Japanese ATM... I put an extra 0 at the end and man, was I surprised when all that cash just kept coming out. I'd prefer to see Square be able to work with Suica, Pasmo, and all the other common ways that people actually pay for things here in Japan (besides cash of course)
- E14n 13y ago
  Cash usage is mostly because people feel they are more likely to get cheated by the banks then be robbed (which is probably a pretty fair assessment of risk ;). I remember in the past making a $6,000 bank transfers by going to the convenience store ATM taking out money and going to the bank ATM. I don't know anywhere else in the world where I would feel safe doing that. There is also a lot of electronic money usage. Many people carry hundreds of dollars on their rail cards. Credit cards are considered risky in Japan. My understanding is that chargebacks are not enshrined in law so its not guaranteed and whether it is or not most people presume they will have to pay if their credit card is fraudulently charged. Convenience store payments are also popular because they are low risk and convenient.
iloveponies 13y ago
They've had standalone systems like Edy and other systems tied into retailers on their phones for years. Given that Japan is hugely a cash based society, I wonder if this will really take off.
madeofpalk 13y ago
Been to an Apple Store in the last month (In Australia, at least)? This is how Apple tackles it http://www.ingenico.com/en/products/payment-terminals/mobility/ismp/ http://www.ingenico.com/en/products/payment-terminals/mobili...
- _frog 13y ago
  Interesting, it seems a little too bulky to get consumer traction but it's definitely a cool approach.
- ouaibe 13y ago
  And you get a real FIPS-compliant hardened device manufactured by someone that actually knows (and tries) how to handle security/crypto vs Square that doesn't really offer anything as such and that handles your track data in the non-protected memory of the phone...
nchlswu 13y ago
Square has expanded to Canada. We have an impending chip legislation that takes effect I think within the next two years? I'm sure it's in the works

by _frog 13y ago

So I take it that Japan doesn't have EMV chips in their bank cards yet? I'm curious to see how Square tackles that when they hopefully expand to Europe and Australia.

cdavid 13y ago

Many don't, and basic debit accounts don't offer 'standard' cards (VISA, etc...). Japan also has a culture of using cash everywhere (I have seen people handling the equivalent of 1000s $ in cash numerous times), and it will be interesting to see what square can do there. Interesting challenges, and definitely something that needs improvements in Japan.

mathrawka 13y ago
I remember one of my first experience with a Japanese ATM... I put an extra 0 at the end and man, was I surprised when all that cash just kept coming out. I'd prefer to see Square be able to work with Suica, Pasmo, and all the other common ways that people actually pay for things here in Japan (besides cash of course)
E14n 13y ago
Cash usage is mostly because people feel they are more likely to get cheated by the banks then be robbed (which is probably a pretty fair assessment of risk ;). I remember in the past making a $6,000 bank transfers by going to the convenience store ATM taking out money and going to the bank ATM. I don't know anywhere else in the world where I would feel safe doing that. There is also a lot of electronic money usage. Many people carry hundreds of dollars on their rail cards. Credit cards are considered risky in Japan. My understanding is that chargebacks are not enshrined in law so its not guaranteed and whether it is or not most people presume they will have to pay if their credit card is fraudulently charged. Convenience store payments are also popular because they are low risk and convenient.

iloveponies 13y ago

They've had standalone systems like Edy and other systems tied into retailers on their phones for years. Given that Japan is hugely a cash based society, I wonder if this will really take off.

madeofpalk 13y ago

Been to an Apple Store in the last month (In Australia, at least)? This is how Apple tackles it http://www.ingenico.com/en/products/payment-terminals/mobility/ismp/ http://www.ingenico.com/en/products/payment-terminals/mobili...

_frog 13y ago
Interesting, it seems a little too bulky to get consumer traction but it's definitely a cool approach.
ouaibe 13y ago
And you get a real FIPS-compliant hardened device manufactured by someone that actually knows (and tries) how to handle security/crypto vs Square that doesn't really offer anything as such and that handles your track data in the non-protected memory of the phone...

nchlswu 13y ago

Square has expanded to Canada. We have an impending chip legislation that takes effect I think within the next two years? I'm sure it's in the works