Square announces a Tap to Pay on iPhone early access program launching today

Tap to Pay with iPhone, a new payment system that will allow people to accept payments using nothing more than an iPhone, will be available to members of Square's new early access program this summer, the company has confirmed.

Announced via press release, the new program will allow a limited number of people to try Stripe's implementation of Tap to Pay with iPhone ahead of its full launch.

Square today announced that it is working with Apple to enable Tap to Pay on iPhone, Apple's contactless payment acceptance capability, within the Square Point of Sale app. The new offering enables sellers of all sizes to seamlessly and securely accept in-person contactless payments with only an iPhone and Square's industry leading POS app. Ahead of publicly launching the service later this year, Square also announced an Early Access Program for Tap to Pay on iPhone, allowing select sellers to begin testing the new technology.

Currently, people who want to accept payments using an iPhone will need to use a third-party accessory. With Tap to Pay with iPhone, that requirement is removed entirely.

Square notes that access to the early access program is limited and that people wanting to get involved can learn more on the company's website now.

Tap to Pay could well turn out to be the best iPhone feature for small businesses, allowing them to accept both Apple Pay and contactless card payments with ease.