Look, the future is inevitably going to be almost completely plastic, whether we want it or not. The extra security, convenience and durability of credit and debit cards makes it a shoe-in really. So if you’re running a small business or service and you can’t accept credit cards, you’re going to be working at a disadvantage. Which is why services like Sum Up are so interesting.

Smartphone credit card terminals are nothing new, but this one is interesting because it’s small and elegant, and the service doesn’t hit you with a bunch of fees just for using it. You pay a flat 1.95% on every transaction and that’s it. No monthly fee or hidden charges. Which is perfect if you want to know exactly what you’ll get out of a transaction at the end of the day.

The app offering also looks to be nice and easy to use, with real time transaction histories, digital receipts by SMS or email, and a nice looking reporting and export function. The service is currently in operation across Europe where Chip&Pin cards are used, so no US at the moment. The actual terminal, which connects to your phone via secure encrypted Bluetooth Smart, costs £59 or the equivalent in Euros.