Wireless point of sale terminal for credit and debit payment systems

Electronic POS (point of sale) systems process credit and debit card payments. While the credit card transaction can be processed off line, debit card processing is performed strictly on line. Lack of an on line authorization mechanism restricts remote customer oriented services, like delivery applications, to low amount credit card transactions. Debit is not even considered as an option for remote customer services. All this is due to the lack of POS terminals to acquirer host connectivity. Wireless communication presents a viable alternative to the problem of merchant to acquirer connectivity. Portable hand held wireless POS terminals enable merchants to provide on line debit and credit payment option at the point of service, as opposed to the dedicated location with the cash register installation. Wireless POS is completely changing the operating mode of the mobile service industries, like taxi, courier, delivery and limousine services. One design approach to wireless POS systems for wireless LAN and wireless WAN is presented. An introduction to credit and debit card processing is included and the conventional POS shortcomings and the new business solutions based on the application of wireless POS technology are presented. The description of the integrated wireless POS terminal focuses on the communication requirements for POS processing.