Is SoftPOS an alternative to dedicated terminals?

It is one of the acquisition models. SoftPOS activates acceptance on a commercial smartphone, with no dedicated hardware. It changes the cost structure and the support path: when something breaks, the escalation goes to the application provider rather than to a lessor or a manufacturer. The operator should record which model each merchant uses.

One of several acquisition models

SoftPOS turns a commercial Android or iOS phone into a payment terminal: the merchant installs an application, and customers tap their card or phone on it. No dedicated hardware, no lease, no logistics. It sits alongside the other models: terminals bought outright, leased from a lessor, or supplied by the acquirer.

What changes

• Cost: a software subscription or a per-transaction fee instead of hardware and maintenance.
• Support: when something breaks, the escalation goes to the application provider, not to a manufacturer or lessor.
• Security: the application and the phone's attestation are certified under scheme programs, with their own update cycle.
• Limits: some markets or schemes cap PIN entry on phones or restrict certain flows.

What operators should do

Record which acquisition model each merchant uses, because it determines the support path, the certification scope and the cost structure. SoftPOS suits mobile merchants, small retailers and backup acceptance in large stores. Dedicated terminals remain the choice for high-volume counters and integrated POS systems. An operator serving both needs both models in its catalog, each with its certified acquirer pairings.