via aws.amazon.com => original post link
The needs for dedicated card machines (or readers) tied to point-of-sale (POS) systems have historically restricted certain micro-merchants from adoption of electronic payments. New advancements in payments technology and standards have led to the development of software point-of-sale (SoftPOS).
SoftPOS is a software-based solution that transforms near field communication (NFC)-enabled smartphones into a contactless payment terminal without the need for additional equipment (such as a card reader). The recent cloud-based innovation is further lowering the barrier to accept payments.