SMEs which use Globe’s mobile point-of-sale reader can now accept payment from Visa debit and credit cards, following an agreement between the Filipino operator and the card giant.

The card reader, which was launched by Globe earlier this year, is plugged into Android and iOS smartphones and tablets to turn them into payment terminals.

The reader and associated app are sold under the Globe Charge brand. The service was launched end-March 2014 by G-Xchange, the operator’s m-commerce unit.

From launch, the service worked with MasterCard cards and Globe said at the time that Visa would follow soon.

Enabling small businesses to accept Visa cards broadens the demographic to which they can appeal, argued Paolo Baltao, G-Xchange president.

“We partnered with Visa to provide more payment options for small and medium enterprises using Globe Charge, effectively growing their customer base, and in the long run, their businesses. With a mobile phone, SMEs can facilitate payment transactions from Visa cardholders without the need for a traditional credit card facility,” he said.