GCash for Business pulled back the curtain on two new in-store payment devices, SoundPay Plus and EasyPOS, at the 18th PH Business Expo in Pasay City, pitching them as the answer to the two problems its general manager blames for keeping small merchants cash-only: high costs and lack of knowledge. The two-day event at the SMX Convention Center Manila drew more than 10,000 entrepreneurs, startup founders, exhibitors and business professionals, organizers said.
The expo ran May 22 to 23, 2026, under the theme “Legacy in Motion: Empowering Growth to the Nation,” and was hosted by the Philippines SME Business Network, known as PhilSME, with GCash for Business as a sponsor. The showcase put merchant hardware on the main floor at a moment when cashless payments are spreading fast across the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a segment the Department of Trade and Industry has been pushing to digitize.
The Two New Devices Take the Showroom Floor
Per GCash, SoundPay Plus is an upgraded version of GCash SoundPay that accepts both QR and card payments and plays a clear sound on every successful transaction, giving the merchant audible confirmation that the sale cleared. EasyPOS is a more full-featured in-store terminal that adds physical receipts and a POS-style flow with voids, refunds, settlement and value-added services on the way. The two devices accept the same kinds of payments but are built for different merchant tiers, and both can be ordered and managed only through the GCash for Business Portal.
They follow last year’s launches of the original SoundPay, which provides instant audio confirmation whenever a customer successfully pays, and GCash PocketPay, which turns an NFC-enabled Android smartphone into a POS machine, the company said in a press release. The original SoundPay was the first device in the lineup to play a sound on every successful transaction, a feature designed to help merchants in noisy environments confirm that a payment has gone through.
The differences between the two new devices, drawn from GCash’s own product documentation:
| Aspect | SoundPay Plus | EasyPOS |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | All-in-one in-store payment device with QR and cards and sound confirmation on success | All-in-one in-store POS terminal that accepts QR and credit/debit cards |
| Who can avail | Tier 1, 2, and 3 merchants | Tier 2 and 3 merchants only |
| Payments accepted | QR and card payments | QR and card payments |
| Receipts | Digital receipts via customer mobile number | Physical receipts |
| Distinctive feature | Audible sound notification; simple all-in-one device | POS-style experience with voids, refunds, settlement and value-added services coming soon |
| Ordering and management | Ordered and managed via GCash for Business Portal only | Ordered and managed via GCash for Business Portal only |
| Indicative card MDR | Standard rack rate 3.2% applies | Standard rack rate 3.2% applies |
Ten Thousand People in Pasay
The 18th edition of the expo filled the SMX Convention Center Manila at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on May 22 and 23, 2026. Organizers reported more than 10,000 attendees, 190 exhibitors and over 260 business solutions on display, according to the Manila Times. The event was built to gather innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, corporate professionals, business owners and franchisors in one place, with business solutions and industry insights meant to help them navigate an increasingly digital economy.
- More than 10,000 attendees
- 190 exhibitors
- 260+ business solutions on display
- Two days: May 22-23, 2026
- Theme: “Legacy in Motion: Empowering Growth to the Nation”
Veteran broadcaster David Celdran hosted the two days. The opening ceremonies were led by PhilSME CEO and managing director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, sponsors and business leaders. The expo also launched the first PHILSME Business Magazine, introduced by PhilSME media director and magazine editor Angie Quadra-Balibay. Organizers and industry leaders described the 2026 edition as a response to growing demand for face-to-face business networking, leadership access and real-world entrepreneurial communities, even in an increasingly AI-driven and digital-first business environment.
The wider push matters because the Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing e-wallet markets. Google Pay joined nine local bank and fintech partners in November 2025 to put tap-to-pay in Android phones, a development Mindcron covered in its write-up of Google Pay’s Philippines launch with nine bank partners. DTI Undersecretary Lantayona used her keynote to frame the broader stakes for MSMEs in national development, according to the Manila Times.
The 19th PHILSME Business Expo is scheduled for May 2027, organizers said, as the platform continues expanding its role in supporting Filipino entrepreneurship, innovation and business collaboration.
The Portal and the P5 Million Wallet
Behind both new devices sits the GCash for Business Portal, an all-in-one dashboard where merchants track sales, transfer funds, monitor transactions in real time and manage their wallets. The portal also offers financing and insurance solutions, which GCash says give merchants a path to capital and financial protection as they grow. By simplifying onboarding requirements, GCash said, the portal spares merchants from lengthy application forms and extensive documentation, a friction point that has kept many small businesses from adopting digital tools in the first place.
The Starter Plan, designed to lower the barrier for first-time digital merchants, gives users access to an upgraded P5 million wallet limit, along with transfer capabilities of up to P100,000 per transaction to other GCash accounts and merchants. GCash’s parent Mynt has secured major investments from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Ayala Corporation, a development Mindcron covered in its write-up of Mynt’s $5 billion valuation and digital bank licensing.
How PhilSME and GCash for Business Framed It
At GCash for Business, we help Filipino MSMEs grow by making digital financial tools simple, accessible, and easy to use. Our goal is to remove the barriers to digitalization.
That was Paul Albano, general manager of GCash for Business, framing the new devices as a way to clear the friction that keeps merchants on cash. GCash for Business, he said, has been designing tools that simplify the daily operations of MSMEs so they can scale up their business in the long term, recognizing that many small businesses avoid going digital because of high costs or lack of knowledge.
Albano added: “As more consumers shift to cashless transactions, MSMEs need simple and accessible digital tools that can help them serve customers faster, manage operations more efficiently, and unlock more growth opportunities.”
Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla, the PhilSME CEO and managing director, said the expo is meant to connect Filipino entrepreneurs with the support systems they need to grow. The PHILSME platform, she said, has always been about bringing Filipino entrepreneurs together to grow, learn from one another and open doors for future opportunities, with events like the expo serving as the physical meeting point for that community.
Both Albano and Esguerra-Abrenilla pointed to cost and complexity as the main barriers keeping small merchants cash-only, and both positioned their respective platforms, the portal on one side and the expo on the other, as the answer to those barriers.
From Sign-Up to Settlement
For a merchant, getting started costs nothing up front. There is no initial fee for the device or terminal at the time of availment, GCash says. Charges come in as a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on every transaction: 3.2% for each card payment and 1.0% for each QR payment.
- Device fee: P0 at the time of availment
- Card payment MDR: 3.2%
- QR payment MDR: 1.0%
- Delivery: 4 to 6 business days for Metro Manila and most provinces
- Remote delivery: up to 16 days
- Activation: pre-activated, set up in store by a GCash Value Chain Partner
Delivery is handled by a GCash Value Chain Partner. Devices typically arrive within 4 to 6 business days for Metro Manila and most provinces, or up to 16 days for remote areas. The VCP sets up the terminal in the store, explains how to use it and leaves the device pre-activated, so the merchant does not need to handle the technical setup alone.
Once a device is in, the merchant’s daily routine ends in a manual settlement step. On the EasyPOS, that means tapping Settlement, picking the batch, and confirming. On the SoundPay Plus, the same flow lives in the on-device menu. Funds move to the GCash for Business Portal wallet once settlement completes, and the wallet balance shows settled funds rather than the full transaction history. The transaction history updates instantly, but a settlement step is needed before money lands in the wallet, per GCash.
For card payments, merchants can process Visa or Mastercard transactions through tap or chip-and-PIN. For QR payments, customers can scan a QR code using GCash and other apps that support QRPH, the national QR standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did GCash for Business launch SoundPay Plus and EasyPOS?
The two devices were unveiled at the 18th PH Business Expo at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, which ran May 22 to 23, 2026.
How are SoundPay Plus and EasyPOS different?
SoundPay Plus is open to Tier 1, 2, and 3 merchants and plays a sound on every successful transaction, with digital receipts sent to the customer’s mobile number. EasyPOS is restricted to Tier 2 and 3 merchants and prints physical receipts, with voids, refunds, settlement and value-added services built in.
How much does it cost a merchant to get one?
Nothing up front. GCash says there is no initial fee when a merchant avails of either SoundPay Plus or EasyPOS. The cost comes through a Merchant Discount Rate: 3.2% on each card payment and 1.0% on each QR transaction.
How long does delivery and setup take?
Delivery takes 4 to 6 business days for Metro Manila and most provinces, and up to 16 days for remote areas. A GCash Value Chain Partner activates and sets up the device in the store.
Editor’s note: This article is based on a press release issued by GCash and the Manila Times’ coverage of the 18th PH Business Expo. The press release was sponsored by GCash and produced by an advertising content team separate from Mindcron’s editorial newsroom.
