[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

PayPal has launched PayPal Here, a mobile payment solution, that lets a free app and thumb-sized card reader turn any smartphone into a mobile payment solution. Remember Square?

Merchants can accept payments by swiping cards in the card reader, scanning cards and checks using their phone cameras, or manually entering card information into the app. They can also send an invoice and set payment terms directly from the app. And, of course, they can accept PayPal payments.

The PayPal Here card reader and merchant app for iPhone are currently available to merchants in the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. It will be generally available in those countries next month. The Android version of the PayPal Here merchant app will also be available at that time. PayPal will announce the availability of PayPal Here in more countries soon.

U.S. businesses can join the wait list to get a free PayPal Here card reader at www.paypal.com/here. International merchants can register their interest at their local PayPal site.