Wireless Credit Card Processing

As their name suggests, wireless credit card processing solutions allow merchants to accept payment cards on mobile devices, thus enabling card processing at locations outside of stores and offices. Depending on the type of wireless processing service, the mobile terminals will be using either short- or long-range networks to transmit the payment information collected from the card’s magnetic stripe.

There are two major groups of wireless processing services:

• Long-Range Wireless Card Processing. Long-range wireless solutions use the same networks that cell phone carriers use for transmitting voice and data. The service is available everywhere network service is present. It is perfect for businesses that regularly accept payments at their customers’ locations or at industry gatherings and similar types of events.
• Short-Range Wireless Card Processing. Short-range wireless devices use the same connectivity services that cordless phones use. The mobile processing terminal can be operational within a radius of several hundred feet of the location of its base unit which is connected to a phone line. The short-range wireless card processing service is perfect for merchants with limited mobility requirements, e.g. merchants who need card acceptance capabilities at different locations on their premises.

There are several main advantages to using mobile solutions for accepting card payments:

• Additional Card Processing Options. A wireless card processing service allows merchants to immediately process card payments at trade shows, conventions, or on their customers’ premises.
• Better Fraud Protection. With a wireless terminal the customer remains in possession of the card at all times, thus reducing the possibility of a fraudulent activity.
• Reduced Processing Costs. Because wireless transactions are processed in the safer face-to-face environment, they generally receive the best processing rates available.

There are a couple of disadvantages of using wireless card processing solutions that merchants need to be aware of:

• High Equipment Cost. The cost of mobile terminals is significantly higher than that of regular point-of-sale terminals and can be the deciding factor in your decision, especially if your processing volumes are low.
• Network Signal Availability. Typically described as the biggest draw-back, network signal availability is continuously being improved. Merchants will need to check the reliability of the network that your prospective provider is using in the area you will be operating in before setting up a wireless merchant account.

Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Wireless Credit Card Processing

Low Cost Merchant Account

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