Watch Out, Square And PayPal: Groupon Officially Launches Breadcrumb POS

Yesterday, we told you about the surprise release of Groupon POS, Groupon's very own point-of-sale app for iPad. As it turned out, it was also a premature release, and the app was promptly pulled by Groupon from the App Store with the promise of releasing a permanent version soon. Well, that permanent version has arrived, and with it comes a different name: Breadcrumb POS. If you're wondering what warranted the name change, it's worth noting that the app is essentially a modified edition of the old Breadcrumb app. The old Breadcrumb app is the client app for the Breadcrumb hospitality point of sale system, which Groupon acquired nearly a year ago. Small wonder then that Groupon POS is now officially named Breadcrumb POS. As noted by my colleague Joe in his post about its premature release, the app lets merchants accept and manage payments using an iPad. By all accounts, it's Groupon's answer to the popular Square Register and PayPal Here POS apps. And just as Square Register and PayPal Here work with the Square and PayPal Here card readers, Breadcrumb POS works in conjunction with the Breadcrumb card reader. But while both the Square and PayPal Here card readers may be acquired from Square at no cost, the Breadcrumb card reader has to be purchased from Groupon as part of its Breadbox hardware packages. The cheapest package is at $545 and includes a Breadcrumb card reader, a Wi-Fi-only iPad 2, and a Windfall by Heckler Design iPad stand. Some of the other packages also include a cash drawer and a printer that may be used with Breadcrumb POS to automate and simplify transactions. What is perhaps most appealing to merchants about Breadcrumb POS is its rate of 1.8 percent plus $0.15 per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, and Discover (Amex rates vary). In comparison, Square Register and PayPal Here charge 2.75 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, per swipe. Breadcrumb POS is applicable to practically any type of business and is enhanced with the following additional features:

Easy Account Creation, Simple Setup, Fast Customer Checkout

Multiple Tax Rates, Custom Items, Flexible Discounting

Employee Roles, Menu and Tip Customization

Beautiful Real Time Sales, Product Mix, Till Reports

Email Receipts, Custom Printed Receipts, Prints Kitchen Tickets

$5000 in Free Processing with purchase of secure card reader (limited time)

Free Live Support

Compatible with iPad running iOS 6.0 or later, Breadcrumb POS aka Groupon POS is available now (for real!) in the App Store for free. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"]