Portable credit card readers and mobile credit card readers can give your business an edge over cash-only businesses at fairs, festivals and trade shows. Finding pocket credit card readers (also called mobile credit card scanners) that meet your company's needs requires a little homework on your part.

Before you buy mobile credit card readers or portable wireless credit card readers, compare mobile credit card swipe machines online. Read product reviews for mobile credit card scanners, pay attention to credit card readers: mobile advice and ratings, and investigate suppliers of mobile credit card readers. Prices for mobile credit card readers can also vary greatly, so make sure you know what you're getting for your money. To get started:

1. Learn about the types of portable credit card readers.

2. Compare prices for mobile credit card readers and services.

3. Investigate suppliers of mobile credit card readers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide what your business wants from a portable credit card reader

Do you want your mobile credit card scanner to have Bluetooth? Should your pocket credit card reader also double as a phone? Can your current phone work as a portable credit card reader? A review of different suppliers of mobile credit card readers can help you answer these questions.

I recommend: Compare features for different mobile credit card scanners at ePay Management. VeriFone sells several different models of mobile credit card readers, all of which come with different features. Read up on what a portable credit card reader can offer and you'll have a better idea of which features your business wants in a mobile credit card scanner.

Determine what your business will pay for a mobile credit card reader and associated services

While you can easily compare prices for mobile credit card readers, remember that your business will also need to set up a service to accept credit card payments. If your business already accepts credit cards, then you can likely skip this step. But if you're new to accepting credit cards, then you'll need to set a budget for the convenience of accepting credit cards.

I recommend: Thompson Merchant Services and Paynet Systems allow you to compare prices and options for both mobile credit card readers and mobile credit card processing.

Check out various credit card readers: mobile advice and ratings

As with any technology, you can look at prices and features for every brand of mobile credit card reader almost endlessly. To really find out what users--not makers of--mobile credit card readers think of the different pocket credit card readers, check out the reviews and blogs about the product or products your company might purchase.

I recommend: Both Smartphone Experts and ZDNet, from CBS Interactive, review different types of mobile credit card readers. Sometimes the reviews tell the good and the bad, other times they may simply include a video of how a new model of pocket credit card reader works. Either way, make sure you check out independent reviews like those posted on these websites.

Currently many different types of businesses are benefiting from the emerging technology of wireless or mobile credit card scanners. These types of businesses include:

1. Casual and fine dining restaurants, particularly those restaurants with delivery services
2. Retail businesses that conduct considerable in-the-field transactions, such as plumbers, mechanics, electricians and commercial movers use portable credit card readers
3. Professionals, including many doctors and accountants, use mobile credit card processing in off-site locations

Top of the line pocket credit card readers may include these features:

1. Enabled for WiFi hot spots
2. Not restricted by WiFi hot spots (for those who distrust the security of WiFi)
3. Enables transactions for credit cards, debit cards, smart cards and/or WiFi
4. Built in encryption for security
5. Built in phone SIM card for security (JavaMe platform)
6. GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network
7. Mobile credit card swipe machines
8. Ports for Bluetooth connections
9. Enabled for PDAs
10. Built in receipt printer
11. Touch screen for electronic signature capture

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find mobile credit card readers that are compatible with PDAs

Blackberrys, TREOs and iPhones are types of PDAs with portable credit card scanner transaction capabilities.

I recommend: Advanced Merchant Solution's website, MerchantAnywhere, is one of the leading makers of credit card readers mobile technology. Their pocket credit card readers are aimed at a variety of Bluetooth compatible PDAs, including TREO, Blackberry, Motorola Q Smartphone, Sony Ericsson P900 models and Apple's iPhone. ePay Wireless, another one of the leading suppliers of mobile credit card readers, offers its "Bluetooth Swipe Only" and portable printing products.

Find cell phones that are also portable credit card readers

Cell phone portable credit card readers may be best served by GSM, the most popular global connection system for cellular phones and still the most common mode of mobile communication.

I recommend: Software developer Aircharge offers commercial payment applications and cell phone products. The Aircharge website allows you find a cellular phone service provider or network for your area. Way Systems is a cell phone manufacturer aiming primarily at mobile point-of-sale transactions. They offer a product demo on their website, as well.

Find sellers of cross platform portable wireless credit card readers

Sellers of cross platform portable wireless credit card readers best serve those users unsure of the type of mobile credit card scanner that's right for their business needs.

I recommend: Major point of sale equipment manufacturer and seller VeriFone offers cross platform transaction devices, such as their bestselling NURIT 8000. These platforms include WiFi, GPRS and CDMA networks. Mobile credit card transaction developer and seller ExaDigm offers products that are inter-changeable with modems enabled for WiFi, Bluetooth, and GSM network.

Find mobile credit card reader and processing services offered by major banks and others

Mobile credit card reader and processing service providers offer leased mobile card reader devices with card processing services.

I recommend: Bank of America offers merchant card processing services and VeriFone cell phone products. Thompson Merchant Services, a Chase Bank partner, is a full-service payment processing company offering mobile credit card processing services. VeriFone Access is a hosted mobile credit card processing service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Note that iPhones with mobile credit card readers may not have the ability to swipe or print out transactions.
• •  Some users might prefer Java ME or Java Platform Micro Edition, an operating system made for cell phones and PDAs, by computer technology pioneer Sun Microsystems.

Using mobile credit card readers can help you meet the fast-paced demands of your customers by processing transactions on-the-go. Whether you are away on a business trip or your company terminal or your computer is tied up, mobile credit card readers allow you to seamlessly process sales regardless of your location.

Learning more about mobile credit card reader key terms can help you gain knowledge about various types and features of credit card readers to ensure that you choose a reader that is most suitable for your business transaction needs. It’s also important that you find out more about the various types of merchant accounts needed to effectively process payments from mobile credit card readers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mobile commerce (m-Commerce)

Mobile commerce is a method that allows you to accept credit and debit card payments for goods and services when you are away from the office. This method includes payments using mobile credit card readers, cell phones and personal digital assistants.

I recommend: Find out more about m-Commerce at MerchantSeek.

Card-Present/Card-Not-Present Merchant Account

A card present account is one in which the customer is present during the sale and the merchant has the ability to physically swipe or insert the credit or debit card for payment. A card-not-present merchant account is one in which the customer is not present for the merchant to physically swipe the credit or debit card for payment. Card-not-present transactions are typically those that occur via the Internet or over the phone.

I recommend: Learn more about a card-present and card-not-present merchant accounts at MerchantCouncil.org.

Mobile Transaction Terminal (MTT)

The mobile transaction terminal is a device that combines transaction security with functionality. This device comes with a built-in magnetic stripe and smart card reader, and an external printer.

I recommend: Read more about the mobile transaction terminal at Merchant Express.

Magnetic stripe reader

A magnetic stripe reader is a device that reads the information on the back of a credit or debit card. They are categorized based on how they read the card information: insertion readers or swipe readers.

I recommend: Learn more about magnetic stripe readers at TechTarget.

Point of Sale (POS) terminal

A point of sale terminal is one that allows you to accept payments for goods and services on site at the time of the transaction. POS terminals process credit card payments in real-time.

I recommend: Read more about point of sale terminals at FirstData.

Smart card reader

Smart card readers are card acceptance devices used to process credit card and debit card payments. Some smart card readers are equipped with secure PIN entry for added customer security.

I recommend: Find out more about smart card readers at CardWerk.

Mobile credit card readers education and training can help you meet the fast-paced demands of your customers by processing transactions on-the-go. Whether you are away on a business trip or your company terminal or your computer is tied up, mobile credit card readers allow you to seamlessly process sales regardless of your location.

To make certain you are prepared to meet your customers’ needs, you and your employees should undertake proper portable credit card reader education and training. You can learn more about efficiently processing wireless credit card transactions when you seek education and training from:

1. Manufacturers or providers of mobile credit card swipe machines who offer technology, products, support and training.

2. Consultants specializing in training and cost of mobile credit card readers.

3. Credit card issuers who can train your staff on the processing of transactions performed using portable credit card readers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Turn to consultants or system providers for training of your staff on a mobile credit card reader

Typically mobile credit card readers will have similar functions to regular may units, but the differences caused by the mobility and wireless functions of these units could mean you need some basic education and training for your staff. Look to consultants to help train your staff on the basics of mobile credit card reader functionality and more specialized education pertaining to loss prevention, chargebacks, cyber crime..

I recommend: The Merchant Risk Council helps merchants with advocacy and educational programs to promote safer, less risky electronic commerce transactions focusing on cybercrime education, chargebacks and loss prevention, among other topics. The Merchant Account Explorer will work with you to match your needs and budget to the mobile card reader service that's right for you.

Seek training on the use of mobile credit card scanners from device manufacturers or providers

The primary benefit of using mobile credit card scanners is convenience for you and your customers. Using a mobile credit card scanner can also improve the overall credibility of your business and enhance the efficiency of your sales transactions. However, in order to do it properly, your employees should receive proper training in the operation of the mobile or handheld credit card reader.

I recommend: Verifone consultants will educate your employees on basics of payment transaction credit card readers. You can also work with Verifone to customize training programs to fit your specific needs. You can also learn more about the benefits of mobile credit card scanners by visiting The Merchant Account Explorer.

Get additional training for your staff on mobile credit card processing from card providers

Financial institutions and major credit card providers such as Visa and Mastercard provides training for your staff on safe and secure processing of mobile credit card readers Staff can complete transactions within seconds by using portable credit card readers.

I recommend: Visa offers training in secure and standard credit card processing, key management and PIN security among other security topics. Mastercard Worldwide provides a point-of-sale terminal security program ensuring merchants' portable card processing systems comply with card processing security standards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While portable credit card readers can help you quickly process transactions in any location, it's important for you to fully understand some of the disadvantages of using mobile credit card readers. For example, you may not have the flexibility of processing debit transactions with a mobile credit card scanner. In addition, your mobile phone service area could limit where you can process transactions using your portable credit card reader.