Versatile point-of-sale systems and methods

A point-of-sale system, comprising:

• a base stand having one or more functions configured to be enabled and disabled, wherein the base stand comprises one or more wireless communications components and a receiving interface that includes a plurality of first electrical contacts;
• and
• a computing device configured to enable the one or more functions of the base stand when the computing device is docked into the base stand, wherein the computing device comprises:
• a user interface;
• a docking interface that includes a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the docking interface enables the first electrical contacts of the computing device to come into physical contact with the second electrical contacts of the base stand when the computing device is docked into the base stand;
• a card reader configured to receive and read a card that is inserted into the card reader;
• and
• an electronic scanner configured to electronically scan a machine-readable code;
• wherein the base stand is configured to:
• wirelessly access, via the one or more wireless communications components, user information associated with a user of a mobile device that is different from the computing device;
• and
• transmit the user information to the computing device and cause the user information to be automatically populated in the user interface of the computing device.

A point-of-sale system, comprising:

• a base stand having one or more functions, wherein the base stand includes one or more wireless communication components and a plurality of first electrical contacts;
• and
• a computing device configured to enable the one or more functions of the base stand when the computing device is coupled with the base stand, wherein the computing device includes:
• a user interface;
• a coupling interface that includes a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the coupling interface is configured to removably couple the computing device to the base stand, such that when the computing device is coupled to the base stand, the plurality of first electrical contacts come into physical contact with the plurality of second electrical contacts;
• a card reader configured to retrieve electronic information from a card that is inserted into the card reader;
• and
• a scanner configured to scan one or more types of machine-readable codes;
• wherein the base stand is configured to:
• wirelessly communicate, via the one or more wireless communication components, with a mobile device of a user and obtain user information associated with the user;
• transmit, via the one or more wireless communication components, the user information to the computing device;
• and
• cause the user information to automatically populate the user interface of the computing device.