Mobile wireless chip and pin machines

Mobile wireless options for chip and pin machines are an attractive option for many retailers. Although integration with EPOS retail software is difficult, the freedom and flexibility is unrivalled.

Chip and pin machines that receive their authorisation information via an internet connection have been commonplace for many years. We are all familiar with mobile internet technology, and the two didn't take long to embrace each other to give use wireless mobile chip and pin machines.

Most of these machines use the GPRS network to get an internet connection for chip and pin authorisation's. This is normally a very fast service, and authorisation's can be completed in about 5 seconds.

The advantages of a mobile wireless chip and pin machine are obvious. Most of them can be taken more or less anywhere in the country. Some of them are battery powered - which is useful for a show, or to use in a shop where it is handy to take the chip and pin machine to the customer - perhaps in restaurant.

Some mobile wireless chip and pin machines are actually mains powered. These are less flexible - but still useful it places where you can't get a decent broadband internet connection - perhaps a long way from the exchange.

Make sure you get the correct type - mains powered or battery powered, depending on your requirement. However, don't ever get a mobile chip and pin machine for the sake of it. If you do not need the wireless capability, it is always going to be cheaper to get a wired solution.

Many companies hire mobile chip and pin machines, so you can rent them for a week if you have a special show or outdoor event to attend.

It is very difficult to integration retail EPOS software with wireless mobile chip and pin machines - do not expect your solution provider to integrate with the mobile models unless they specifically say this is the case.