Faster Authorizations
A small number of companies are beginning to push the speed barriers in Point-of-Sales authorizations, yet some ISOs do not know the benefits or even the insider jargon of this opportunity.
We believe that over the next couple of years, those of us in the financial services marketplace will be seeing more and more references to 950 and ISDN-D channel access.
ISDN :
ISDN, or Integrated Services Digital Network, is a new way of transmitting telephone traffic. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a revolutionary communications architecture that integrates voice, data, and video transmission simultaneously over a single access line, making possible an array of integrated applications.
ISDN's digital technology allows the provision of three communication paths, called channels, over the same copper wire arrangement that provides traditional telephone service.
ISDN individual line is provided through the ISDN Basic Rate Interface, also known as 2B+D. This arrangement provides two "B," or bearer channels, and one "D," or Delta channel. Each of the "B" channels can carry voice and circuit switched data at up to 64 kilobits per second. The "D" channel carries signaling information between the central office and the subscriber's ISDN equipment, and may also be used to carry packet switched data at up to 16 kilobits per second. ISDN was designed to work smoothly with traditional telephone service so that customers who subscribe to ISDN services can make and receive voice-calls from customers who subscribe to traditional telephone service.
ISDN allows
the small business to rapidly authorize credit card purchases while
answering calls from other customers. With ISDN, the entire terminal
transaction usually takes 5-6 seconds, compared to about 20 seconds
over an analog phone line.
950 :
The 950 access service provides a fast connection through the local telephone system directly into the service provider's network. From an X.25 backbone, calls are routed through a Network Interface Processor (NIP), a customized interface that manages transaction traffic between the service provider network and your host application software. With this service you avoid call setup and baud rate negotiation. This service is designed specifically for point-of-sale transactions. The "950" network is designed to synchronize communications and simplify network protocol, which provides merchants with a high-speed, low-cost, reliable transaction which dramatically decreases processing time by up to 35%. Faster connection means more sales in less time.
Who's already doing it? :
CrossCheck Inc.®, one the nation's leading check guarantee
companies, is offering both 950 and ISDN authorization services. The
company is also providing air miles for each check transaction to
encourage retailers to migrate to one of these new high-speed
authorization solutions.
CrossCheck® is the first in the industry to provide
full high-speed support for its customers, and the first to tie this
enhanced service to air miles.
VeriFone, the nation's leading provider of point-of-sale solutions, is also hot after ISDN acceptance.
VeriFone has announced their ISDN product called Digital Express, which is a turnkey ISDN solution for a retailer who has been waiting for ISDN. VeriFone notes that ISDN can support up to eight independent devices on one ISDN line and handle voice and data simultaneously.
VeriFone is addressing a full turnkey program to ensure the rapid deployment and full support for ISDN access in the retail community by providing full installation, customer premises equipment, application software, ISDN provisioning, local access, wide area transport, and financing.
We understand that the cost can be as low as $70 per month for a 48 month lease, and it is fully backed by VeriFone.
We believe that 950 and ISDN solutions will become a standard for mid-scale retailers over the next couple of years, and a opportunity for more innovative ISOs to differentiate themselves and to sell even more equipment options.
For more information on VeriFone's Digital Express, call 770-552-3404 and ask for Jim Troy. For information on CrossCheck's 950 and ISDN high-speed authorization with air miles call CrossCheck's Sales Support Group at 800-654-2365.
