June 16 2010

Mobile Credit Card Processing vs. Wireless Credit Card Processing

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Processing a sale for a merchant with a credit card has never been easier when it comes to using a mobile phone.  With today’s technology it is perfect for a professional working in the field.  You can process transactions on the go.  You are no longer held back by the connected internet and having to have a stationary location.  Making your business as mobile and wireless as you are allows you the freedom to go anywhere.

One of the advantages is you would be able to take it on the road with you and even be able to take it with you while you went on vacation.  You would be handle things instantly on the spot and move on.  Transactions take a matter of minutes.  So, not only do you save time but you are not tied down.

Think about the opportunities that will be available to you and how you will be able to take advantage of an existing computer, a landline meaning a phone that actually plugs in, or any mobile telephone even a wireless handheld device.  There is no down side to either option.  The lines are secure and you are still able to provide the customer safety and protection on his credit card data allowing a secure payment solution.

There are several businesses available that you would be able to sign up with that would be able to provide these services to you and your business.  So, have the ability to process orders on the spot, increase your sales and profits, other business’s have that tried it.  There is customer service available to you 24/7, 365 days a year when you have this service and it allows you to grow your business without tying you down.  That’s about it, it makes sense and it also takes advantage of the last minute impulse buyer or the add-on sale to complete a customer’s purchase.

Wireless credit card processing is great if you do business at trade shows or at someone’s home or are on someone else’s premises.  It allows you to offer customers additional payment options.  It provides you a payment at the point of sale too.  By using one of the web-enabled wireless terminals it allows you to process credit or debit card payments in real time from anywhere you can use your cell phone.  You are able to process payments more quickly and with less of an error rate or missed payments.  It is definitely worth checking out the options available to you.

For more information on how to obtain a mobile merchant account or wireless merchant account please vist http://www.stradafee.com!

June 16 2010

Wireless Merchant Accounts for Kiosks in Malls

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Don’t you love going into the malls around the holiday and seeing the different kiosks that are available for you to purchase that special gift for someone?  This is when there are usually a variety of them around and in the summer too.  They may be selling you the seaweed facial wraps or cups to put your child’s picture on or even that picture that you just took in the photo booth as a souvenir.  The one question remains and that is how will they process your sale 

It is through a wireless merchant account that many kiosks are able to conduct their business.  Of course, there are some that call back to their physical store and have a person physically type it through the internet system they use but for the most part at the malls they use wireless credit card processing.

There are a few companies that you would be able to rent equipment from or purchase equipment from and purchases their services for a monthly fee.  Let’s look at a few of them.  There are the traditional wireless terminals, the apps for your iPhone and the Android-powered phone.  Most come with no setup charges and no monthly minimums which is something to take into consideration when you are looking for a company to use.  Another consideration is their customer service, when you want help you want someone there to provide it to you. 

A traditional wireless credit card terminal is great if you do trade shows or work outside and need something to process credit card and debit card sales and you can use your cell phone.  The iPhone is a mobile, virtual credit card terminal which runs right on your iPhone.  You do not need any additional hardware and you simply take the customers information and charge the credit card.  The mall kiosks would be able to get instant authorizations on all their sales.  

The last one we will mention is the Android and it is a terminal that runs on any Android-powered phone.  Once again this does not need special hardware and you can just enter the customer’s credit or debit card information and an instant authorization is available for the person at the mall kiosks.

 Now, that was pretty easy if you think about how they are able to conduct business when taking conducting credit card processing at one of the mall kiosks.  Times have changed huh?  In a good way though.

 For more information on wireless merchant accounts for your mobile credit card processing needs, please visit http://www.stradafee.com/wireless-merchant-account!

June 16 2010

Why PCI Compliance is so Important to Your Credit Card Processing

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The most important reason that Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards are in place is so that the customers and the businesses will not be open to identity theft and to discourage computer “hackers” from breaking into your business or entering into your bank accounts.  A hacker is someone who performs a network intrusion which is an unauthorized access to a computer network environment or payment system, to illegally obtain cardholder data.

Here is another definition – “data compromise and that is it is a deliberate attack on the communications or information processing systems exposing cardholder account information to third parties, and placing cardholders at risk of fraudulent use.  This attack can be initiated by a disgruntled employee, a malicious competitor, or a misguided hacker.  Attacks often result in damage or disruption to the entire payment system.  Protect your cardholder customers as best you can as you would want to be protected if you were your own customer. 

It is a requirement that merchants protect credit card processing data.  Companies are using common practices that have adopted common industry security requirements referred to as Payment Card Industry (PCI).  One of the ways that this is being accomplished is by going into partnerships with various security companies that can provide the data security and the mandatory industry requirements around the protection of data through the payment transaction process.

There are twelve requirements that need to be met and they range anywhere from installing a firewall to your mainframe network, encrypting all transmissions of cardholder data across open public networks, updating antivirus software, assigning unique IDs, maintaining an Information Security Policy, and regularly testing security systems and processes.

The PCI Security Council is an independent body responsible for the development and ongoing evolution of security standards for account data protection has developed the “Priority Approach”, which provides guidance for non-compliant merchants striving to achieve compliance.   This is a pretty powerful statement and a useful statement letting you as a merchant know that there is help available to get you where you need to be with your business.  This is in place for the protection of your customers.

Depending on the size and number of transactions your business processes each year will depend on the requirement or assessment you will be responsible for whether it is a quarterly scan or an onsite assessment.  Virus scanning is important and beneficial because you want to have your environment sealed off to individuals trying to break through your network.  The quicker you are able to catch someone the quicker you are able to shut them off.  Your goal is to safeguard your customer’s cardholder data, when you perform the scans continuously you are also following the requirements for ongoing Payment Card Industry compliance.

To learn more on on becoming PCI compliant for your online merchant account check out http://www.stradafee.com!  Make your credit card processing safe and secure for your clients.

June 14 2010

Summer Festivals and ATM Machines

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How many times have you been somewhere and then stopped unexpectedly at another place to find you did not have enough money on you?  Although, you do remember seeing and ATM machine on the way in and knew you could go back and get some.  When you go on vacation you normally plan on the money that you bring and then there are times when an unexpected expense will occur or you see that one thing you must have and you find you forgot your charge card but have your bank card on you and know it can be used in an ATM machine.

 

Have you noticed at many places now that there are independent ATM machines available for you to use?  ATM machines are now available when you go to places like a summer festival.  This would have something years ago that would have been unheard of and now you do not have to worry anymore.  The added conveniences are all around us.

 

In any town, that sets up their activities they should consider bringing in an ATM machine for everyone to use.  It is an extra way to ensure that your vendors have success at the summer festival.  It is another way for a business to make money as they get a fee from every transaction.  The ATM Machine will allow better concession sales especially when that is usually a cash only portion of business.  Consider it another customer convenience and a part of doing business if you are a company that travels.

 

Summer festivals are a place to have fun and they are a place where customers tend to impulse buy so having an ATM machine available is a way to increase your sales whether that customer needs that extra item to round off her purchase or finds that special piece that is unique and will make the best gift she has ever bought someone. 

 

As businesses at festivals try to cover all ends of processing credit card and debit card sales using a wireless terminal or hand held device not all businesses are equipped with wireless capabilities.  Having the ATM machine available should be a consideration for your next investment.  For more information on ATM machines and ATM processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.