Wireless Credit Card Machines

Wireless Credit Card Machines

Landline Credit Card Machine Information

What you need to know about Wireless Credit Card Processing?


A wireless terminal used in conjunction with a wireless merchant account will provide an effective portable payment processing system. Wireless credit card machines are at the forefront of credit card processing technology. Many have built in pin pads and thermal printers to make them a complete mobile transaction solution. They are lightweight, very portable and are easy to use. A wireless credit card machine comes with advanced technology but also with a much higher price tag when compared to standard POS terminals. The starting price on a wireless credit card machine is around $850.00 for full featured terminals and can go up from there. The comstar charge anywhere terminal has a much lower price, but does not include an attached printer. One of the benefits of wireless terminals is a feature called store and forward. This service allows cards to be processed when no cellular service is available, by storing the card and transaction information obtained in the swiping of the credit card. The merchant later completes the transaction when service is available. By using store and forward, a merchant will never have to turn down a sale. Most wireless terminals have built in pin pads, and are also able to operate with electronic check acceptance services. Due to federal regulations, both debit and electronic checks must be processed through a land line connection and cannot be processed wireless. This is due to the added security that is required when transactions involve a customers bank account. Wireless credit card machines are most often used in mobile and trade show businesses, but are becoming more common in upscale restaurants, taxi, limo, and delivery services.

Lipman Wireless Credit Card Machine

Lipman 'Nurit' Wireless Terminals:
The leader in wireless credit card machines is the manufacturer Lipman. Lipman makes the 'Nurit' model credit card machines. The three current wireless Nurit terminals are the Nurit 3010 , the Nurit 8000, the Nurit 8000G while the new Nurit 8100 is currently undergoing certification. Lipman also manufactured the Nurit 2090 wireless terminal, but this terminal has been discontinued and replaced by the Nurit 3010 and the Nurit 8000.
Verifone Wireless Credit Card Machines

Verifone Wireless:
Verifone manufacturers the Verifone Omni 3600 wireless terminal. The Omni 3600 operates on the standard CDMA network. The Omni 3600 is the first terminal to operate on the CDMA network, and is currently undergoing certification.
Hypercom Wireless Credit Card Machine

Hypercom Wireless:
Hypercom is relatively new to wireless processing. Hypercom makes the T7 Wireless but the current wireless terminal that hypercom is manufacturing is the Hypercom Optimum M2100. This terminal is very small and compact, and operates on the CDMA cellular phone network. The Optimum M2100 is undergoing certification at this time.
Comstar Wireless Credit Card Machines

Comstar Wireless:
Another manufacturer that is quickly gaining popularity, is the company Comstar. This company produces the Charge Anywhere wireless terminal. The Charge Anywhere is a lower cost terminal that is very compact and easy to use so it is ideal for many merchants who don't want to spend a lot of money on a processing terminal. It is a little larger than a personal pager. A printer does not come attached to this terminal, but one can be added if needed.

Wireless Processing Networks:
Wireless credit card machines operate on wireless networks, and thus require additional wireless fee's for the cellular service. A wireless credit card machine can be used with a normal phone line if cellular service is not available within a particular area, or can be set up with a store and forward system when no telecommunication method is available at all.

Important Wireless Network Information!
Mobitex Wireless Processing Network

There are three different networks that these machines work off of. The first network uses a system call Mobitex which uses a satellite network, and operates similar to a cellular phone. This network is the standard for wireless processing. The mobitex network is run by Velocita Wireless. This is not the standard cellular phone network, but is designed specifically for business and processing uses.

CDPD Wireless Processing Network
The second wireless network which is similar to but pre-dates the Motient network is called CDPD. Machines that use the CDPD system, will soon be useless on the wireless processing network because the CDPD system is being abandoned. It is important when purchasing a wireless terminal to ensure that the machine does not use the CDPD wireless network but uses the Motient or CDMA networks. The CDPD machines can be found for a very low price in areas such as EBAY, and should not be purchased unless you are planning to use it only for land line transactions!

CDMA, GSM, GPRS Wireless Network
The third system that is very new for processing is the standard GSM and CDMA cellular phone networks. The GSM network is used by Cingular and T-Mobile. The CDMA network is used by Verizon and Sprint Wireless. These systems are the networks that most cellular phones operate on, allowing for a very large coverage area and reliable service. The coverage area is substantially larger than the Motient Network. The Lipman Nurit 8100 and Verifone Omni 3600 can operate on the CDMA network. The Hypercom Optimum M2100 is designed for the GSM network, and the Nurit 8000 can potentially operate on both GSM and CDMA networks. The Nurit 8000G is now certified on the GPRS EDGE network.