The Mobile Wallet and the Tap to Pay System

We all have our mobile phones today, and, like our wallets used to do, the phone holds virtually everything we need: pictures, contacts, email, even bank account information. And now smartphones are trying to take one more thing out of that bulky wallet: payment cards. The mobile phone is on the cusp of becoming a mobile wallet, among all its other functions. The only thing you need to be concerned about is that you’ll never be able to use the I-forgot-my-wallet excuse again!

"The Mobile Wallet"

What is a Mobile Wallet?

A mobile wallet is also referred to as a mobile payment. Mobile payments allow you to use your phone to transmit the payment data from you credit card or debit card to the store with just a tap on the processing terminal where you would normally swipe your card.

 

The technology emerged in 2005, piloted by Nokia, and was different from payment via SMS text or through direct billing. This type of mobile wallet or mobile payment allows you to use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to allow a special device in the smartphone to send waves to a receiver in the merchant’s payment terminal. This receiver gathers the information and transmits it to the computer to read and process it.

 

The technology for mobile payments is already in place and being used by some European countries, although their uses include paying for public parking and public transportation. You may also already use this technology if you have an EZPass for your vehicle on toll roads.

 

The proposed mobile wallets would feed off your bank account or a credit card account, and not off of a cash fund you place on the device. The mobile wallet gained a lot of ground after the initial testing done by Nokia, and now many other phone companies are rolling out smartphones with the capabilities of mobile payments.

 

Research in Motion, Google Android and LG are some of the first to announce that their upcoming phones would be capable of mobile payments using NFC of merchant to consumer transactions and by using debit or credit card information. Additionally, the manufacturers of the payment processing terminals have begun to catch on to the trend, and are now rolling out terminals that have both NFC capabilities, as well as ordinary swipe card technology. 2012 is expected to be an exciting year for mobile wallets and NFC technology system.

 

How does this help me?

 

2012 is the year when merchants should begin to get the system in place for the mobile wallet system. Ensure that your payment processor is capable of handling any changes in payment systems, and that your own terminals are up to date so that if a customer comes in and wants to just tap to pay, you are able to serve that person.

 

Everyone will benefit from this technology, especially after the initial challenges of changing systems. The mobile wallet is infinitely more secure than the credit card for both the consumer and the merchant. The card information stored on the phone can be removed within seconds of the phone being reported lost or stolen. This means less fraudulent purchases for the merchant and less hassle for the consumer. Additionally, the technology ensures security by sometimes requiring a PIN or a password to access the system and also uses waves that are encrypted and generally not readable except from a very short distance.

 

Another example of how this will help both merchants and consumers is that the smartphone has the capability to not only use the credit card information but also any coupons and loyalty card information to efficiently process the transaction giving the consumer the maximum benefit and the merchant the easiest transaction. Then all information can be stored in the computer and merchants can use loyalty card usage and coupon usage information to help them improve sales and customer satisfaction.

 

Finally the advent of NFC technology and its use as a mobile wallet will change the credit card industry and the payment systems industry, with most of the changes being something your providers will need to adjust to quickly. Currently the mobile wallet is “operator-centric,” meaning that the phone company and the consumer operating the phone are in control of the use. The credit card system will not face so many changes; it will merely have to be more prepared for use of wireless and internet transactions. Essentially the mobile wallet removes the need for swipe cards, but not the processing fees associated with it. Credit card companies will need to adjust to this change.

 

How can we help?

 

While you and your customers ponder the use of the mobile wallet, we offer a mobile payment system which may help you adjust to the idea of phones being a method to convey currency. This handy system allows you to turn your smartphone into a payment processing terminal safely and securely. Contact us today to discuss how you can prepare for the new technology and how it may affect your business.

 

When all other players in the system are changing, you can bet that your payment processor will need to change too. My POS Depot is watching this emerging technology and is excited about the changes that are occurring. As a processor we understand that the merchant, and the consumer, and the credit card company are all shifting positions, and the payment system processors will need to be prepared to shift too. As the specific use of this technology emerges and the players begin to take their places, My POS Depot will be adding mobile products and solutions for merchants to help them move forward without interrupting business.

Are digital receipts and mobile card processing the next evolution of commerce?

Grant @ MyPOSDepot

How often have you waited in line at the local home improvement store for the one clerk to checkout 20 patrons; often with tired, screaming children running through the aisles?  Perhaps you’ve enjoyed a long meal at a Zagat-rated restaurant, and you’ve been waiting for over a ½ hour for your server to process your check.  You know the story; its wait, wait, and wait some more!  Waiting is what we seem to do best these days.  If you’re like me, when you purchase a product or service, you want to get in and out of the retail environment as soon as possible, with no complications at the register.

Recently, an increasing number of retailers and restaurants are offering mobile credit card processing as a solution to alleviate these long checkout queues, as well as enjoy other benefits to the merchant and consumers.  In a nutshell, the merchant utilizes a placement reader or card swiper that attaches directly to a smartphone, such as the iPhone, Android or Blackberry.  A smartphone app downloaded by the merchant provides the technology for credit card processing, digital signatures and electronic receipt transmission to the customer.  The merchant swipes the customer’s card through the placement reader, the card transaction processes in the background, the customer signs the smartphone screen and a receipt is emailed to the customer’s email inbox.

Beyond the obvious convenience factor of reducing retail checkout queues and the efficiency of emailing a receipt directly to a customer email inbox, merchants are starting to tout the other benefits that accompany mobile credit card processing.  Merchants that are migrating towards paperless, digital receipts are finding that expensive to maintain receipt printers are no longer necessary.  This in turn reduces the merchant’s receipt paper and printer ink costs.  With a reduction of paper usage, merchants can now champion the environmentally friendly aspect of paperless receipts in their green marketing campaigns.  Customers also appreciate the green alternative to a crumbled receipt that often gets misplaced.

Cardholder security is a major concern for both merchants and customers alike.  Most mobile processing systems are equipped with rigorous encryption standards that meet or exceed conventional processing terminals.  For example, Alpha Card Service’s QwickPAY mobile processing device surpasses current PCI DSS standards by combining multi-layered MagneSafe™ security, in addition to encrypting card data from the point-of-swipe.  The QwickPAY service enables merchants to use their existing mobile devices to make secure, card present transactions anytime and anywhere, without the concerns of storing sensitive card data.

Smartphone with QwickPAY

QwickPAY digital receipt

For merchants, there are clear opportunities for direct marketing with obtaining the customer’s email address.  Special offers, coupons, newsletters and social media outreach are all possible with this direct relationship with the customer.  However, some privacy advocates have expressed concern that obtaining customer email accounts constitute an intrusion into personal information.  As electronic receipts have been optional for consumers thus far, most of these concerns are unfounded.

As a person who is frequently impatient with long lines and slow checkout staff, I fully embrace this transformation to digital receipts and mobile credit card processing.

Grant Rowlands
National Account Executive
P: (866) 480-2433
C: (215) 421-3333
F: (215) 494-0368

http://www.myposdepot.com

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Industry specific credit card processing solutions allow merchants to save on their overall cost by reducing fees.

GRANT @ MYPOSDEPOT.COM

MyPOSDepot is a bank direct payment processor. There’s no middleman to contend with. When you get your payment processing directly from the source you save!

MyPOS Depot guarantees the lowest credit card processing rates in the industry. They are so confident that they can beat the rates of any competitor that they will write you a check for $500.00 if they cannot. Just provide statements or a quote from your current or prospective service provider & MyPOS Depot will conduct a FREE cost analysis to show you the savings!

Questions?

Contact MyPOS Depot’s Sales Department @ (866) 480-2433

Campus Solutions

Plan for the future by offering a variety of payment options today. Educating tomorrow’s future leaders is great responsibility. That’s why MyPOS Depot offers solutions to foster an environment that allows students to focus solely on learning, not on the complexity of tuition payments. Our state-of-the-art services and products will make your payment system more cost-effective and offer more options to help students feel at ease.

Childcare Solutions

Eliminate complicated payment with MyPOS Depot’s cost-effective solutions. Let us streamline your payment management system so you can focus on what you do best: keeping children safe and parents happy.

Food Service Solutions

Create a feast for your bank account as well as your senses. MyPOS Depot offers fresh ideas to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently, while saving you money with every transaction. Let us handle the details so you can focus on growing your passion.

Gas and Small Market Solutions

Get your customers to their destination even faster. MyPOS Depot provides the technology that allows your customers to refuel, pay, and on their way faster than ever. In addition, MyPOS Depot offers full ATM full service to provide incentive for people to visit your store on a continual basis. Busy customers appreciate all that you offer to help them out and will return the favor by patronizing your establishment.

Healthcare Solutions

Healing people is one of the most important services one can provide, and MyPOS Depot can help you minimize the stress of payment so you can focus on what really matters. We offer solutions to process a variety of payment so there’s always an option for everyone. Let us take care of payment processing so you can provide the best care for your patients.

 

Hospitality and Lodging Solutions

Get 100% guest-satisfaction every step of the way, from check-in to check-out. Every guest deserves the best possible service, and by utilizing MyPOS Depot’s wide range of services you’ll be able to provide an experience they’ll never forget. Once you try our credit card payment options or utilize our full ATM service, you’ll wonder how you ever worked efficiently without us. Hospitality is all about pleasing the guest – it’s time someone was all about pleasing you.

Laundry and Cleaning Solutions

It’s like finding $20 in your jeans pocket. . .only it happens every day. Let MyPOS Depot guide your establishment into the 21st century with our convenient cashless solutions. Customers will always have the right amount of change, and minimizing the cash at your business decreases your vulnerability to theft.

Pharmacy Solutions

Get the Rx for savvy payment processing. With MyPOS Depot you’ll not onhy not increase your company’s efficiency, but also improve customer service. Get your customers the medicine they need in the most cost-effective and competent way possible, and we’ll stand behind you 100%.

Neighborhood Market Solutions

Make your customers even happier to see you by offering a convenient array of payment options. MyPOS Depot offers a wide variety of payment options, as well as full ATM full service that includes ATM transaction processing, ATM sales, leasing, deployment, vault cash services, installation, monitoring, service and support under one roof. We’ll take care of the payment so you can focus on keeping your customers happy.

Non-Profit Solutions

You help people, so let us take care of you. At MyPOS Depot we provide payment solutions that maximize company efficiency to allow people to focus on their passion. Our services and products will help you raise more money to aid even more people, making the world a more caring place for everyone.

Parking Solutions

Get your business up to speed with cashless convenience. It’s a busy world out there – let MyPOS help you become even more competitive with our convenient payment processing systems. By adding a cashless form of payment to your current options you’ll get people on their way in less time than ever before!

Personal Care / Wellness Solutions

Eliminate the stress of searching for a suitable payment processing system. Your customers come to you to relax, so let MyPOS Depot take care of the details of payment so you can provide a calm, stress-free environment. Your guests will feel even better if they know how well you’re taking care of them.

Professional Services Solutions

Make your services even more valuable by offering a variety of payment options. Regardless of your profession, your clients will appreciate a variety of payment options. MyPOS Depot also offers electronic check conversion so you’ll have access to payments by check without ever stepping foot inside a bank. Make your business even more competitive and stay ahead of the curve with our state-of-the-art technology.

Restaurant Solutions

Taste success with every transaction! Offering a variety of payment options encourages repeat business and provides four-star service to guests. MyPOS allows you to accept all types of credit and debit cards, eliminates the middleman in processing payment, and allows you to reap the profits of an efficient payment system that puts your guests’ needs first.

Retail Solutions

There’s a lot of product turnover in retail, but our quality and competency never changes. MyPOS Depot can enhance your passion for quality and great customer service by by offering a variety of payment options. Not only that, but our electronic check converter transfers funds for a purchase directly into your account, so you never have to set foot in a bank.

Service and Repair Solutions

Hit the nail on the head with the perfect payment option for your customers. They trust you for the best possible service, so give them a little something extra with convenient payment processing.

Utility Solutions

Feel the energy with every transaction! Getting your customers to pay their bills on time is a time-consuming and costly problem for utility companies. However, by using MyPOS Depot’s check reader you’ll be able to deposit check funds without a trip to the bank, and equip your gas and oil delivery staff with wireless terminals to collect payment immediately after delivery.

Vending Solutions

Your customers will have exact change, every time. By offering a cashless payment option you’ll make purchasing more convenient for people, increasing your sales. In addition, MyPOS Depot offers full ATM full service that includes ATM transaction processing, ATM sales, leasing, deployment, vault cash services, installation, monitoring, service and support under one roof. Soon people will have even more incentive to buy their favorite snack from you.

Veterinary Solutions

Be the top dog when presenting payment options. Whether you’re traveling to your four-legged patients or they’re coming to you, an efficient payment processing system ensures that you’re providing the best possible care. MyPOS Depot has the right tools for you that will easily integrate into your current management system to make it more cost-effective. If your patients could talk, they would thank you!

Wholesale Solutions

We streamline your business so you can provide products at an economical price. In order to give customers the best possible value, your business needs to be as cost-effective as possible. Let MyPOS Depot centralize your payment processing system so you can maximize profits while offering solid deals to your customers that keep them coming back.

 

Credit Card Processing

Look no further for a fast, profitable and safe solution to your customer payment needs. By giving your customers the option of paying via credit card, you will encourage higher customer sales, decrease checkout times, and bolster customer revisits. In addition, accepting credit cards reduces the amount of cash on hand, decreasing your vulnerability to theft.

Merchant Cash Advance

Cash advances provide you with an advance on your future credit card sales without restrictions on how to use the money. We can get you the money you need within seven days, and do not require collateral or personal guarantees. Our flexible capital spending funding and easy to meet requirements will help your business succeed!

Electronic Check Acceptance

Eliminate weekly bank trips with our free check reader, which electronically captures information from a check so the funds are deposited directly into your account. As an additional benefit, you will never have to deal with non-sufficient funds again with our check guarantee program.

ATM Services

Add value to your business and increase foot traffic with an on-site ATM. Surcharge fees offset credit card terminal charges and people will buy more with the cash they just withdrew. Give your customers even more reasons to patronize your business!

Interchange, what it is and what it is not?

 

Grant Rowlands @ myposdepot.com

Everyone is talking about Interchange, but most people do not define it properly.

Some merchants believe that the rates or transaction fees they pay are Interchange, they are not. There are three components that make up the fees that merchants pay. The processor that runs the transaction charges the merchant for each transaction.

Interchange is the portion that goes to the bank that issued the credit or debit card (if debit card with PIN number used, there are additional fees depending on the network used).

A small percentage of every sale goes to the brand of the card (MC, Visa, Discover), these fees are called the Dues & Assessments fees. Currently the rate is 0.11% plus about two cents per transaction.

The rest is retained by the processor. The processor’s share funds its computer network, customer service, support staff, pay of agent signing merchant and the processor’s profit.

There are over 500 different levels of Interchange. Volume plays a part in Interchange level, the largest retailers pay lower rates than smaller stores for the same card types.

Some businesses (including big box stores) are on Interchange Plus pricing. The Visa debit Interchange is 0.95% + $0.20 per transaction. A $100 transaction will have an Interchange cost of $1.15. If the merchant pays Interchange Plus $0.05, then total with Dues & Assessments (D&A) would be about $1.33.

Most merchants pay tiered rates. If that rate is 1.79% + $0.25, then the $100 transaction costs the small merchant $2.04 or $2.17 if D&A not included in rate.

Consider Interchange to simply be part of your processors wholesale cost. If you are a large retailer, your overall rate is tied directly to Interchange. If a smaller merchant, Interchange has no direct bearing on your rate.

If your statement includes the term(s) of Qualified, Mid-Qualified, Non-Qualified, MQ or NQ; you have tiered pricing, like about 90% of other merchants.

MyPOSDepot

@MyPOSDepot Philadelphia, Pa

MyPOSDepot is a bank direct payment processor. There’s no middleman to contend with. When you get your payment processing directly from the source you save!