rossCheck Inc., Comstar Interactive Corp. and NextDayFunding.com jointly have developed a check authorization application that runs on both the RIM 950 and RIM 957 wireless handhelds. This wireless payment processing solution is available now and will be marketed to merchants nationwide by the three companies.

The RIM 950 is the size of a pager, and the RIM 957 is palm-size. To create and retrieve information, the user accesses the optimized keyboard, thumb-operated track wheel, backlit screen and intuitive menu-driven interface. The handhelds are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives.

The RIM 950 handheld unit is manufactured by Research In Motion Ltd. and is part of a family of RIM wireless handhelds, the BlackBerry wireless e-mail solution, embedded radio modems and a suite of software development tools.

"The payment applications for the RIM handhelds are designed with 1,024-bit, randomized encryption, offering the highest security," said Pascal Abadie, Comstar chief technology officer.

Research In Motion, RIM and BlackBerry are trademarks of Research In Motion Ltd.

Payment authorization can be used side by side with other handheld /communication features, including peer-to-peer messaging, receipt confirmation, e-mail and interactive capabilities.

The check-authorization application enables a merchant using the CrossCheck service to enter check information into a handheld wireless device and have the check approved through CrossCheck's main processing center within three seconds.

"The advantages are huge to delivery and repair businesses, sporting events, tour companies and so much more," said J. David Siembieda, CrossCheck president and CEO. "A parts-delivery business could reduce returned checks by approving them through our system first. A taxi service could safely and conveniently accept checks with a pager and have a communication connection with their dispatch that offers almost instant two-way response."

The RIM pager also can be used for processing credit cards by utilizing the Charge ANY Where cradle to facilitate card swiping and the Charge ANY Where software application developed by NextDayFunding.com and Comstar. Equipment, Checks ANY Where software and CrossCheck's guarantee service are available directly through NextDayFunding.com and Comstar Interactive.

"We've had tremendous success with specialized, multiplatform applications for the RIM unit. Payment processing was the perfect next step and gains from the security features the RIM system presents," said Comstar Project Manager Thami Smires.

Paul Sabella, president of NextDayFunding.com, said, "Today's marketplace demands the flexibility and mobility that real-time wireless solutions provide, whether for information needs, exchange of communication or payment processing. The Charge ANY Where and Checks ANY Where applications on the RIM pager take us there."

State-of-the-Infrared-Art

A financial-messaging standard using infrared communication technology was demonstrated by CrossCheck, the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) and project leaders of the Infrared Financial Messaging (IrFM) Special Interest Group at the Retail Systems 2001 Show last month in Chicago.

The Chicago demonstration proved that financial information successfully can be exchanged via infrared, utilizing Ir-enabled devices such as PDAs, cell phones and POS terminals. Once the system is in place, financial transactions can be as easy as pointing a Palm or cell phone at a POS terminal, which then will transfer credit or debit information digitally. The IrFM demonstration utilized a Palm PDA and a VeriFone 330 POS terminal.

The request from the PDA was "beamed" to the POS terminal, which had been retrofitted with an infrared-adapter. The request from the terminal was then sent to CrossCheck's main processing center through a dial-up server and, after verification, a payment authorization message was sent back to the terminal to finalize the transaction, create a receipt and beam the receipt back to the Palm. The process was completed in just a few seconds.

The specifications being finalized by the IrFM group will be offered as a global standard for the development of payment processing equipment and financial services. This standard is designed to accommodate millions of cell phones, PDAs, payment terminals and other Ir-enabled devices already in the marketplace.

IrFM project members include ACTiSYS, Agilent, C-Sam, CrossCheck, Extended Systems, Harex InfoTech Inc., Infineon, Ingenico, In2M, Motorola, Novalog, Palm, Personal Solutions, VeriFone, Visa International and Zilog.

The IrFM specifications utilize IrDA's popular Object Exchange (OBEX) Protocol to facilitate interoperability between devices. The final specifications will incorporate and provide Bluetooth interoperability (FM) plus EMV standards for credit cards and MICR standards for checks.

In addition, these standards are being developed with the intent of including the digital receipt standards being defined by Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) for the National Retail Federation. IrDA also is connected on this project with Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC), a non-profit organization working to create standardized and interoperable technology platforms for financial institutions.

"This demonstration shows that existing Ir-enabled equipment can communicate financial transaction information quickly and easily at the point of sale using an infrared beam. This means that it is conceivable that as soon as next year, shoppers can begin paying by 'check' using their PDAs or cell phones," CrossCheck's Siembieda said.

More information about CrossCheck is available on www.cross-check.com., and NextDayFunding.com is located at www.nextdayfunding.com. Comstar Interactive Group may be contacted at www.comstarinteractive.com.

For more information about IrDA and IrFM, visit www.irda.org or call Executive Director Ron Brown at (925) 944-2930. Additional details regarding Financial Messaging and the special interest group IrFM can be accessed by visiting www.irfm.org.