Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) today announced the expansion of its Optimum family of 32-bit multi-application electronic payment terminals with a new global countertop platform featuring the highest security, largest memory and broadest feature set of any countertop device family of its kind.
The new PCI PED-approved Optimum T4200 family will be available in three EMV and three non-EMV models, including a dial only model, Ethernet/SSL with dial backup and wireless GSM/GPRS connectivity also with dial backup. The new products can be used in either merchant-facing or hand-over payment environments to meet the varying requirements of global merchant markets.
The six Optimum T4200 models share the same compact form factor including a 19-key keypad layout. They also each offer faster transaction processing, a higher-resolution display and a faster modem than competitive units. They join a full array of high-performance Optimum countertop, multi-lane, wireless and portable terminals that have been adopted by leading banks, retailers and independent sales organizations around the world since Hypercom introduced its first 32-bit Optimum product in 2004.
"This new Optimum countertop platform beats every competitive product on a feature-for-feature basis, and has more capabilities for the price than any other countertop terminal in the industry," said Gregory Boardman, Vice President, Countertop Products, Hypercom Corporation. "With these six new terminals, we now have a full line of 32-bit products that offer a migration path from older products for any single-lane, multi-lane or mobile merchant anywhere in the world."
All six models in the new Optimum T4200 series incorporate a crisp 160 x 80 pixel monochrome display, come standard with 24MB of memory that is four to eight times larger than similar products, and can quickly and efficiently process debit, credit, smart card and value-added transactions such as gift/loyalty and dynamic currency conversion. At just 8 1/4" long, 3 1/2" wide and 2 1/2" high, they are smaller than many competitive devices, conserve space on the retail counter, and are small enough for use in hand-over implementations.
Other key features include:
- High performance - All six units are built around a 32-bit ARM 9 prpprocessor. All include Hypercom's adaptive application architecture for fast multi-application processing that intelligently integrates all functions, and all have a fast V.34 modem for fast dial downloads or dial backup to IP and wireless. All models share the same user interface and software toolkit to maximize efficiency and offer customers a broad range of options to serve any market need.
- High security - The PCI PED (Payment Card Industry - PIN Entry Device) approved Optimum T4200 platform also offers an optional privacy shield, supports DES and Triple DES DUKPT encryption to protect cardholder PINs, and utilizes Hypercom's exclusive RSA-based security infrastructure to prevent the introduction of fraudulent applications or competitor "slamming." This feature is already in operation with the Optimum T4100 series and has effectively reduced terminal attrition without the need for a proprietary device that is limited to specific hosts.
- Global capabilities - The new platform offers three models with integrated smart card readers. The T4200 series meets both EMV Level 1 and 2 global payment standards. The easy hand-over form factor is especially useful for regions that need this capability. All models are also compliant with the RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances) requirements of the European Union. It also will meet Canada's Interac standard for exchanging electronic financial transactions as well as EPSCO and China RoHS for Asian markets.
- Easy use, installation and administration - The Optimum T4200 series features an easy-to-use 19-key keypad, a fast roll thermal printer, Hypercom's exclusive wizard-style user interface for faster and more accurate terminal configuration, and the company's integrated IP diagnostic application with an embedded help system to aid effective installation and troubleshooting of IP connectivity while reducing the number of help desk calls and reducing terminal replacements. It also offers an SNMP option for remote monitoring of terminal networks. The support tools and customer designed interface translates into one of the lowest total costs of ownership for devices of its kind.
- Modular connectivity for easy upgrades - The communications capability in each terminal (dial only, Ethernet/SSL with dial backup for broadband connections, or GSM/GPRS with dial backup for wireless use) is provided in a depot upgradeable module. Each terminal also incorporates connections for external PIN Pads, and an RS-232 port for external contactless and check readers.
The Optimum family already includes an array of PCI PED-approved terminals for single-and multi-lane retailers, including the M4100 Blade, the industry's smallest and first truly mobile payment terminal; P4100, the first universal touchscreen PIN entry device that accepts contactless, EMV smart card or magnetic stripe card-based transactions; P1300, the first PCI PED-approved handheld PIN Pad; and L4200 and L4250, the first PCI PED-approved multi-lane payment products with an out-of-the-box, plug and play capability not requiring add-on components.
The six Optimum T4200 models are expected to be available for volume shipments in the third quarter.