ePay Wireless - How A Wireless Transaction Works Before we can understand how a wireless transaction works it is important that we understand what type of wireless device we are utilizing and whether or not that solution uses a wireless payment gateway. Typically, a cell phone or PDA solution is not certified to communicate with the credit card processors. In this case a wireless payment gateway is used as a go-between in communicating with the hosts. Conversely, although it is more plausible for an integrated wireless credit card terminal to have direct certification with the processors, it is still likely that a wireless gateway is being used. Because these devices are communicating over packet-data cellular networks and not traditional voice networks the transaction speeds are not affected by the use of a gateway. Most wireless payment solutions communicate through the use of an Internet-based IP Address. The communication is passed from the payment processing device to the wireless gateway and then forwarded on to the processor. When comparing this to a traditional land-line terminal where the device is dialing out to the processor, waiting for an answer and then shaking hands with a modem, Wireless transaction speeds are much faster. The use of a wireless gateway also benefits the merchant with value-added services not typically provided with direct certified units. Online Real-Time Reporting You can access real-time batch reporting from the gateway's web console at any time. View a current batch, previous batches or query your batch history. Web-Based Terminal Run manual sales, credits, Post Authorizations or void current transactions from any internet enabled computer. So, how does a wireless transaction work? The following is a description of a wireless transaction run through a cellular device utilizing a wireless payment gateway. The merchant accepts the credit card from the customer and swipes it through the card reader. The merchant then enters the amount of the sale and the transaction data is sent to the wireless payment gateway for processing. The gateway verifies the card data and checks against allowed card types, merchant validation and duplicate transactions. Once verified the wireless payment gateway sends the card data to the credit card processor for approval and waits for a response. The processor checks the card data for fund availability, Address Verification (if applicable) and to verify that the card has not been reported lost or stolen. Once verified the processor sends the response back to the wireless payment gateway. If the transaction was approved, the wireless gateway places the sale in the merchant's current batch and sends the approval code back to the merchant's cellular device. If the transaction was declined the response code is logged by the wireless payment gateway and then sent back to the merchant's cellular device. Once the merchant receives the response back from the gateway the approval code will display on the screen for the merchant to note on the manual sales slip or, if an electronic printer is being used a merchant receipt will print for the customer to sign and then a customer copy can be printed. The average transaction speed for a wireless payment to be processed is 6-10 seconds. The transactions that are stored in the merchant's current batch will be automatically settled at the end of the day and then routed for deposit into the merchant's checking account. If you have any questions or concerns regarding wireless payment processing please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-877-493-3729.