Meet Julie Summers. She’s a “street worker” (prostitute) who is dragging her industry into the 21st century. Julie is the first — certainly that I know of — who doesn’t just accept cash, but will also take card using the Square service on her iPhone.
Square is a service that allows you to plug a small credit card reader into your iOS device’s headphone jack and take credit card payments on the go. On the company’s website, Square is marketed as a service “for everyone,” but I bet they didn’t expect street workers adopt the system.
Julie says she “got a hold of the box,” and it really revolutionized the way she does “her business.” She says clients think it’s great because they get a receipt emailed to them, it’s safe & secure, and her “pimp loves it!”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WzrnbUxZKI&feature=player_embedded
What’s more, she uses her customer’s email addresses to send out group rates and “holiday specials.” Julie says that while Thanksgiving is usually a slow season, she can send out an “email blast” and get “good hits” from that.
“I just love having guys swipe their credit card through my box.”
The video is part of a project that demonstrates some of the advantages of using the mobile applications. It was filmed by Roger BStillz, and you can find out more about the project on his blog.
[via The Next Web]