Credit Card Machines 101.com: Buying guide to credit card terminal & check reader equipment

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About Credit Card Terminals

There are three basic types of credit card terminals: landline terminals, wireless credit card terminals, and virtual (software-based) terminals.

Landline terminal. Landline credit card terminals include a magnetic stripe credit card reader, a keypad to enter prices, and a small display. The printer may be integrated or can be a separate unit. Most come with a modem, so you will need a phone line to plug the unit into. The newer models have an Ethernet port that allows you to connect to the Internet, run on Windows CE, have a Web browser and a large display. Landline terminals are ideal if you have a fixed retail location where customers come to you.

Wireless terminal. Wireless credit card terminals look and function just like traditional terminals accept they run off battery power and include a wireless modem and antenna. They are ideal for mobile businesses (think rental car attendants and taxi drivers) or whenever you will be in the field processing customer transactions, such as tradeshows.

Virtual terminal. Virtual terminals are implemented in software on your computer - no physical device is used. You simply type in the customer's credit card number on your PC and payment gateway software processes and authorizes the transaction. Virtual terminals are ideal if you do all business over the Internet, by phone or by fax. For more information, see virtual terminals.

For landline and wireless terminals, units can be purchased that include a receipt printer, debit PIN pad, electronic signature pad and even a check reader. The three largest manufacturers of credit card terminals are Hypercom, Verifone, and Nurit (Lipman).

Sellers of credit card machines