An Easy Guide to Master Mobile Processing
If you’ve been to a recent seminar, trade-show or similar, you may have noticed convenient new ways to pay for purchases without having to use cash or check. Advances in technology make it possible to manage your business transactions anywhere with Mobile Credit Card Processing
Mobile Credit Card Processing is the ability to accept credit card payments with your cell phone, tablet or laptop. No matter where you are, a customer can hand you their credit card and you can simply swipe or insert the credit card through your mobile card reader. Mobile payment processing increases efficiency when it comes to collecting payments. You no longer have to wait to collect or deposit a check from a customer. Funds will be available in your business account within 24-48 hours.
What Mobile Devices Can Be Used for Mobile Credit Card Processing?
Smartphones
We typically work with the following operating systems:
- iPhone
- Android
- Windows
To accept credit cards with your smartphone, all you need is a data plan (connection to the internet), a card reader, SecureGlobalPay’s mobile processing app and a merchant account with SecureGlobalPay. You can start accepting credit cards virtually anyplace covered by your data plan with your smartphone.
Tablets
We typically work with the following operating systems:
- iPhone
- Android
- Windows
Tablets are a multi-functional sales tool that allows you to easily showcase your product. Interested customers can quickly make purchases at any time during the sales process with a tablet that is equipped to process credit cards. If your tablet is available with a data plan it is simple to connect a USB card reader to the tablet and process credit cards at any time.
Laptop
Your laptop can also process credit cards through SecureGlobalPay’s payment gateway services. It is much the same as your smartphone, you will need an Internet connection and a mobile processing card reader. This is a great option if you don’t want to purchase a tablet or smartphone.
How to Get Started?
If you are not currently processing credit cards, you will need to set up a Merchant Account for mobile processing. Once the card is swiped through your mobile processing card reader, the merchant account does all the work of passing information through the right portals to find out if a card is accepted or declined. Once you have set up a merchant account you can attach the mobile processing card reader to your smartphone, tablet or laptop and start processing on the spot.
What About Receipts?
Mobile Credit Card Processing does not provide a paper receipt for your customers. However, as you are swiping the customer’s credit card you will have the opportunity to collect your customers email. This will send a receipt directly to your customer so that you no longer have to worry about making sure the customer receives a printed copy. This will save you time, money and paper supplies.
Who Should Use Wireless Processing?
Businesses who regularly participate in:
- Tradeshows
- Special Outdoor Events
- Farmer’s Market
- Craft Fair Booths
- Caterers
- House Care Service Providers
- Pet Care Providers
- Delivery Services
- Food Trucks
- Utility Providers
What Kind of Card Readers Are Available?
There are typically two types of card readers available for your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Magnetic Strip Reader (most often referred to as a “mag strip” reader) is a hardware device that needs to be plugged into your smartphone, tablet or laptop. There are two “types” of mag strip readers. The first is the insertion card reader which requires that you insert the credit card into the hardware. The swipe card reader requires the credit card to be pulled quickly through the card reader. The magnetic strip on the back of credit card contains the encoded credit card information needed to make purchases. When the credit card is swiped or inserted, the card reader will read the magnetic strip and process the encoded information. These devices typically require a USB connection, or a serial port and will work with software installed on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Contactless Readers. Contactless payment terminals are a popular alternative to the swipe or insert card readers. You simply “tap” the contactless reader terminal and your customer’s credit card information is quickly transmitted via radio waves to your merchant account for verification.
How is Mobile Processing Related to Apple Pay and Google Pay?
Apple Pay and Google Pay are not related to mobile processing. It is an alternative option for consumers to user their credit cards without having to pull out the “plastic credit” card when making purchases. Apple Pay or Google Pay is an app that can be downloaded to your iPhone or iPad. It will store all of your credit and debit card information. When are you are ready to make a purchase, simply wave your phone across the terminal and pay!
How Does It Work?
When you add your credit and debit card information to the Apple or Google Pay wallet each card will receive a Device Account Number. This will scramble, encrypt and store your credit card information so that it remains safe on your phone. When you are ready to use the card, the Device Account Number will be used along with a security code to handle your transaction. Perhaps the best part is that your credit or debit card numbers are never used.
How to Use It?
Apple Pay: To make a purchase with Apple Pay you simply rest a finger over the Touch ID sensor (without pressing down), and hold it over a contactless payment terminal. The iPhone uses Touch ID to authenticate your fingerprint and immediately processes the payment. Touch ID makes this more convenient as you don’t have to unlock your phone first.
Google Pay: To make a purchase with Google Pay hold it over the reader. You may then have to enter your Google Wallet PIN, which is different from your phone-unlock PIN for security reasons. Once the PIN is entered you will be able to make the purchase.
As Mobile Credit Card Processing becomes standard among many businesses, merchants need to meet today’s demands for mobile credit card processing and position themselves for what tomorrow may hold.