Starting on Nov. 8, U.K. merchants will be able to purchase iZettle mini chip-card readers that can turn their smartphones and tablets into mobile payment terminals. The readers will be available exclusively in 297 newly designed EE stores across the country and from EE's telesales channel.

In an announcement, iZettle said that its device and free companion app could be a boon to the country's small tradespeople. Up to now, most have had to bill customers for services and then later chase down overdue bills — a pursuit that amounts to 36 days out of the year.

With iZettle, tradespeople can ensure immediate payment with the ability to perform credit card transactions on the spot. It's an arrangement that 82 percent of Brits have said that they, too, would prefer, according research by EE.

"IZettle is a revolution for small businesses and consumers across the nation," said Gerry McQuade, CMO at EE. "The aim of our new superfast EE brand is to make businesses' digital lives easier and ultimately more profitable through technology. Businesses and consumers are on the cusp of mobile payment transformation, and we are delighted to bring iZettle to market, enhancing our mobile payment portfolio."

The iZettle mobile payments card readers, which can be used with iPhones, iPads and more than a dozen 2.1 and higher Android smartphones and tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy range, cost £20 ($32) in EE stores and come with a £20 voucher that can be used toward iZettle transaction fees. 

With iZettle, merchants can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club payments. There's no convoluted sign-up process, no setup fees, no monthly fees and no minimum spend. iZettle merchants are simply charged 2.75 percent of each payment. 

"The beauty of iZettle is that it's simple to use, totally secure and takes seconds for a transaction," said Jacob de Geer, CEO and co-founder of iZettle, which is used by more than 75,000 small businesses and individuals in six countries. "Whether you are a cabbie, florist, tradesperson or a courier, iZettle gives you the flexibility to operate in both cash and cards. The possibilities are endless because hundreds of thousands of small business can now take plastic."

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