| In the past, many businesses could survive just fine | | | | cellular air card, or a WiFi network. Instead of a credit |
| without accepting credit cards. | | | | card being swiped directly, the card number and |
| But then large retailers such as department stores | | | | expiration information are entered into the computer |
| began welcoming major credit cards and issuing their | | | | and then sent to the processing entity electronically. |
| own. Before long, most mail order and telephone | | | | This method is preferred when you have a consistent |
| businesses started to take card payments. In more | | | | Internet connection but may not always operate in |
| recent years, customers have become able and willing | | | | areas where the GPRS network is available. In |
| to whip out their to pay for groceries, restaurant meals, | | | | addition, POS software frequently comes with |
| and even movie tickets. Today, the vast majority of | | | | additional programs that can work in conjunction with |
| companies count cards among their payment options. | | | | accounting and inventory systems. |
| Given all this, don't you think it's time that your wireless | | | | Interactive Voice Response Systems |
| business began accepting credit cards? | | | | This can be described as the "minimalist" approach to |
| Merchant services providers have now created | | | | wireless processing because it requires no hardware |
| numerous technologies to help any kind of enterprise | | | | or software. All you have to do is punch in the credit |
| process credit card payments. Today, all kinds of | | | | card number into any touch tone phone and follow the |
| businesses can utilize wireless technology to accept | | | | subsequent voice prompts. The merchant services |
| purchases. Some of these businesses include: | | | | provider automatically processes the data and issues |
| - Arts and crafts vendors | | | | an audible authentication response. IVR systems |
| - Souvenir sellers | | | | require the least amount of training for your |
| - Mobile caterers or food retailers | | | | employees. |
| - Door-to-door salespeople | | | | Once you have decided on the type of wireless |
| - Contractors and home remodelers | | | | merchant account, you must then compare different |
| - Repair and service personnel | | | | packages and pricing structures to see which one best |
| But if you start shopping for merchant services | | | | suits the needs of your business. To do this effectively, |
| providers for wireless credit card processing, be sure | | | | you need to understand how merchant services |
| to look for companies who can: | | | | providers make their money. |
| - let you accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, | | | | Every merchant account comes with what is known |
| and Discover cards | | | | as a discount rate. This is the percentage of each |
| - provide you with near immediate authentications | | | | transaction that is paid to the merchant services |
| - give you a wide selection of wireless processing | | | | provider as its fee for processing a credit card |
| equipment and accounts | | | | payment. The discount rate usually ranges between |
| - allow you access to the GPRS network, which is the | | | | 1% and 5%. |
| most dependable processing network available in the | | | | In addition, most merchant accounts also charge flat |
| United States | | | | fees every time you process a credit card purchase. |
| - promise you that your transactions will be as secure | | | | This expense is known as a transaction fee and can |
| as they can be | | | | vary from a few cents up to a few dollars. This cost |
| - supply you with "store and forward" capability (which | | | | is the same no matter how big or small the charged |
| lets you swipe credit cards in poor GPRS coverage | | | | amount is. |
| areas and process these transactions at a later time) | | | | The challenge for you as a business owner is to find a |
| - link transactions with specific purchasers | | | | merchant account which has the most cost-effective |
| Generally speaking, there are three basic types of | | | | rate structure for your transaction patterns. For |
| wireless processing services that you can employ for | | | | instance, if you operate an enterprise which has a |
| your business. | | | | relatively high volume of transactions of smaller |
| Wireless Swipe Terminals | | | | amounts (like a crafts vendor or a souvenir seller), then |
| These operate like mobile versions of the retail swipe | | | | you should search for an account with the lowest |
| terminals that are widely used in traditional storefronts. | | | | possible transaction fees. On the other hand, if most of |
| The customer's credit card is run through a portable | | | | your business' transactions involve larger dollar |
| swipe terminal which is either a stand-alone device or | | | | amounts but you only conduct a handful each day (as |
| an attachment to a laptop computer or cell phone. The | | | | with a home repairman or contractor), then you should |
| data is then transmitted to the processing hub digitally, | | | | opt for a plan with a low discount rate. |
| and authentication is given in just a few seconds. This | | | | It may take some research, but you can find a |
| is the most user-friendly wireless processing method, | | | | wireless merchant account that is ideal for your |
| but it usually requires an investment in hardware. | | | | business type. And once the system is functioning and |
| Point-of-Sale Software | | | | you begin processing customers' credit card payments, |
| This can be installed on your laptop computer and | | | | you'll wonder how you ever survived without a |
| implemented using a wired Internet connection, a | | | | merchant account! |