The Obama campaign has already demonstrated a deft command of social media, and it is now turning its attention to mobile payment technology, as is GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
The president's re-election campaign is equipping staff, volunteers, and field organizers with Square so they can accept campaign donations via their mobile phones, Politico reported Monday.
This is the first time Square has been used by a nationwide campaign, Politico said. Across the country, staffers at all levels will be issued Square hardware that attaches to their iPhone or Android-based phone. The campaign expects that it will cut down on the time needed to process donations.
Launched in February by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Square simplifies the task of payment in a manner similar to PayPal, but for real life, face-to-face situations. Once a payment is complete, a receipt is emailed to the buyer and on the next day, funds are sent to the merchant's bank account via direct deposit.
"What do @BarackObama and @MittRomney have in common? Both are using @Square to raise funds for their campaigns," Dorsey tweeted yesterday.
"Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, running for president or local assembly, Square makes it easier than ever for candidates, organizations, and volunteers to fundraise for their cause," Square said of the news, according to GigaOm.
A campaign spokesperson told the New York Times that the Obama team has plans for a custom Square application.
"Eventually we want to make a version of the Obama Square application available to everyone from within the App Store," Obama campaign rep Katie Hogan said. "Someone who is a supporter of the campaign can download the app, get a Square attachment and can go around collecting donations."
Mitt Romney's campaign has similar plans for a mobile payment app. The campaign's digital director, Zac Moffat, confirmed to the Times that Romney staffers plan to begin using Square Tuesday night "as a beta test" during the Florida primary.
"We're going to be testing it in Florida [tonight] to see how it works and then hope to roll it out in the rest of the country," Moffat said. "Anything that reduces the barrier to donate is going to help us with our supporters."
Besides the 1 million plus merchants that are using Square, various organizations have deployed the technology. Over the holidays, Salvation Army bell ringers in select cities were provided with Square to help collect donations.
Yesterday, meanwhile, Obama participated in a Google+ Hangout in which he discussed the economy, education, drone airstrikes, Internet piracy, and more.