Swedish firm iZettle has launched a beta in the UK of its dongle that enables small businesses to process card payments using an iPhone or iPad. Users wanting to participate in the company’s invite-only trial must download its app and request one of 3,000 dongles the company is making available in the UK.

The company is looking for a wide demographic of businesses and individuals to participate in the beta. It told Mobile Money Live that commercial rollout will be dictated by response to its trial. Dongles are free for participants.

So far iZettle has only launched commercially in the four Nordic countries starting in its home market of Sweden in September last year and then rolling out to Denmark, Finland and Sweden in February 2012.  The company, which has been characterised as the European version of US company Square, says it has attracted more than 50,000 users.

The popular Square has yet to launch outside the US providing a window of opportunity. However iZettle will also face formidable competition from others such as PayPal which is rolling out its dongle internationally.

Those users participating in the UK beta will be able to process payments from MasterCard, Amex and Diners Club cards. iZettle says it is in talks so that Visa payments can be accepted too.