Square Integrates Bluetooth into Cash Mobile App

Square Cash App GreenHot on the heels of its new valuation earlier this week, mobile payments company Square is adding a new feature to its Cash app enabling users to pay nearby contacts over Bluetooth.

The updated app enables iOS users to send or request money from anyone nearby using Bluetooth LE technology, allowing customers to discover people within close proximity and simply tap their name or photo to make a payment.

Square hopes the feature will increase the apps usage among friends and family, streamlining the process of splitting payments for everything from group dinner bills, work outings, sporting events and concert tickets.

Users can choose whether to make themselves visible to anyone within the same space as them, or just to friends, with other Cash customers detectable up to 250 feet away. With iOS 8, payments can also be approved or rejected within the notification centre.