TNS adds BYOA support to Android payment terminals

TNS expanded its Android terminal platform with bring-your-own-app (BYOA) support, allowing merchants and independent software vendors to install and run Android applications on TNS-managed payment terminals while the firm continues to manage core payment and connectivity functions.

The upgrade is delivered as an update to TNS’s cloud-managed Android terminal service and permits deployment of third-party apps for loyalty, inventory, order management and customer engagement directly to in-store devices. Merchants and certified software partners can load applications onto terminals that TNS manages remotely.

TNS operates the network layer for payments and device connectivity and provides a developer pathway plus device management tools that control which apps can run and how updates are applied. The company described the setup as preserving payment integrity and device oversight while expanding local application options.

Security and compliance remain managed by TNS. The company maintains responsibility for secure handling of payment transactions and for controlling software distribution. Installation or updates of third-party apps require certification and administrative approval. The platform supports remote provisioning and over-the-air updates so administrators can push approved apps and security patches and block unapproved software.

Use cases cited by TNS include running native loyalty or gift-card apps on terminals that accept contactless and chip payments, using merchant-specific inventory or staff-management apps at checkout, and enabling self-service or assisted ordering on countertop devices. Running those functions on the payment terminal can reduce the need for separate tablets or kiosks.

BYOA support will be available through TNS’s management console and partner programs. Third-party apps must complete certification steps before distribution to live terminals; TNS recommends merchants coordinate with their software vendors and TNS account teams to confirm apps meet functional and security requirements.

The update follows broader industry adoption of Android-based point-of-sale hardware, which has replaced many proprietary and legacy systems. Vendors and operators have been combining payment processing, customer engagement and operational tools on single platforms; TNS’s update opens its terminal fleet to a wider set of application options while keeping network-level services centralized.