Telecom Italia today announced it will make payleven's chip-and-PIN mobile point-of-sale product available to its customers for free thanks to a partnership between the two companies, according to a press release. 

The agreement comes at a time when new legislation that went into affect today requires all business owners and professionals to allow debit card payments for any transaction over 30 euros (US$40.97).

"The partnership with payleven allows us to broaden our offer of advanced payment solutions," Enrico Trovati, business marketing director for Telecom Italia, said in a statement. "We are convinced that our joint solution allows small business owners to comply with the new regulations in a simple and inexpensive way, as well as giving them the opportunity to boost customer satisfaction."

Konstantin Wolff, payleven founder and CMO, added: "We are proud to work with Telecom Italia to increase card acceptance in the Italian SME segment. The partnership with Telecom Italia demonstrates how an ICT leader with a strong distribution network can successfully shape an offer together with a young and growing pioneer in mobile payments like payleven."

Customers of Impresa Semplice by Telecom Italia who have signed up for a monthly one GB data package can get the payleven chip-and-PIN card reader at no additional cost by filling out an online form, according to a press release.

Payleven's product is comprised of a free app, available on the Google Play store or Apple store, which runs on the merchant’s smartphone or tablet. The app connects to the chip-and-PIN card reader via Bluetooth, allowing the merchant to input the desired amount straight into the app, after which the customer inputs his PIN code or provides a digital signature, according to the press release.