Technology relating to credit card processing via smartphones has become very popular lately, and the market for point-of-sale devices is stiff with competition. Microsoft has now jumped on the point-of-sale bandwagon in a bid to outmarch other tech giants such as Amazon and its Amazon Local Register card reader.

The Redmond company eased into the pay-as-you-please race when a deal was made with PayPal whereby devices such as the Pro Surface 3 and Lumia phones, and other products running Windows 8.1, would start carrying the latest version of its credit card swiping technology PayPal Here, released in 2012. At the same time PayPal announced that the U.S. public could expect an EMV-compliant Here reader sometime this year.

Never before has this technology been available on Windows devices. It looks like the Pro Surface 3 is going to set a strong precedent as being an all-in-one businesses machine, which not just manages finances with various apps but also effectively becomes a mobile bank. Microsoft already has around 20,000 apps related to making mobile payments in the company’s developer app network, as well as a number of apps dedicated to small businesses, so it looks as though adding PayPal Here technology was an astute move from the company. Nonetheless, the point-of-sale technology market won’t be an easy one to win. Companies like Amazon, Square and Etsy, have been solid in creating good products within this milieu.

While Microsoft may have chosen the ideal partner concerning this technology, the company won’t get far if it doesn’t offer just a little more than its competitors. In terms of pricing at least the Pro Surface 3 is not bad at $799, while it has also been gaining traction through some very positive reviews. The iPad, which will also have the PayPal Here feature, does cost quite a bit more, and so when tablets become the complete business machine it’s likely we’ll see a lot of small companies going with the cheaper device.

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