TNS has launched the GRPS service in response to a growing demand for wireless connectivity, particularly at locations where it hasn’t been previously possible, such as on board ferries, trains or at outside events like music festivals.

Malcolm Cahill, Business Development Manager, TNS said: "GPRS can open up new forms of 'remote' applications that were previously impossible. Circumventing the geographical and commercial considerations of installing ISDN lines, GRPS can accommodate EPoS in remote locations and is cost-effective for short-term trading, contingency planning and telemetry."

Offering flexible solutions to meet the needs of the retail and banking sectors, TNS has teamed up with a leading provider of mobile services, to provide GPRS Sim cards for a wide spectrum of transaction applications.

"This means that merchants, who already have their own stand-alone point-of-sale terminals, can benefit from GPRS," said Malcolm Cahill. "The 'always on' functionality gives merchants an instant connection, whereby information can be sent or received immediately. This allows them to rapidly process payment transactions, as no dial-up modem connection is necessary.

"For merchants who require authorisation of large volumes of plastic card transactions, the benefits are huge, as the user is only charged for the data carried, not for the time connected."

The GPRS technology can also support other applications such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), lottery terminals, vending machines, alarms, inventory control and order entry.

Fulfilling the requirements for an immediate payment processing system that can be up and running in a very short space of time.

Malcolm Cahill said: "Deployed in restaurants, taxis, shops, cinemas and at outside events, they can quickly authorise transactions anywhere, anytime. With short-term hire available they are perfect to meet temporary peaks in demand and as queue busting devices."

As part of its new wireless service, TNS can also provide merchants with GPRS capable routers allowing wireless connectivity in the event of a fault on their fixed line. In these circumstances, the routers intelligently switch payment to GPRS, thereby allowing business as usual. This is particularly appealing to smaller retailers, who have no contingency connectivity in place.

Committed to wireless connectivity across its international network and 'community of interest', TNS' Managing Director, Ray Low said: "We will continue to innovate and deliver bespoke solutions to our clients that meet their specific point-of-sale requirements, whether they are fixed, mobile or wireless.

"TNS' GPRS solution will complement our existing point-of-sale operations and provide customers with a reliable and immediate wireless connection to all the major UK acquiring banks and card processors."

Separately, Alphyra UK Ltd has teamed up with Transaction Network Services (TNS), to provide wireless connectivity enabling mobile phone top-up services to be available in locations that were previously difficult to service.

Under the terms of the UK pilot, TNS is providing General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Sim cards in a number of alphyra kiosks on behalf of travel operator Travelex. These cards allow kiosk customers to quickly credit their mobile phones with additional talk time.

Katie Turner, sales executive TNS, said: "We have provided Sim cards for kiosks in a number of test locations including Heathrow Airport, Dover quayside and on board a cross-channel passenger ferry. As GPRS is a wireless technology, customers are able to deploy POS/mobile top-up devices at locations where fixed telecommunications may not be available or where the device is required to be of a mobile nature.

"GPRS is an 'always on' technology which provides customers with instant wireless network connectivity. Once a GPRS connection is established data can be sent and received immediately – perfect for electronic mobile-top up or any type of EFT transaction."

The kiosk customer initially chooses a top-up value and completes payment. The kiosk then generates a top-up request, which is routed via TNS for delivery to alphyra’s processing host. Alphyra then switches the transaction to the appropriate mobile operator for immediate authorisation. Additional talk time is then credited without the kiosk customer having to activate a separate PIN for airtime authorisation.

Hugh Morrow, sales and marketing director, alphyra UK Ltd said: “We are very impressed with the TNS solution, which has allowed us to rapidly deploy stand-alone kiosks to satisfy consumers’ demands for mobile phone services at locations including airports, retail parks, on board ferries and at pop concerts. Because the technology is wireless, retailers can install these self-service 'queue busting' devices very quickly and with total flexibility of movement.

"On completion of the trial, we intend to install an additional 60 self-service kiosks and are currently speaking to other retailers about the benefits of wireless connectivity."

"Not only did TNS provide us with the latest GPRS technology, but, by utilising our existing host connectivity, TNS provided a wireless solution that proved quick to deploy and required no development on our side."

Commenting on the contract, TNS UK's managing director, Ray Low, said: "GPRS is perfect for consumers and businesses on the move. Its flexibility allows retailers to tap into the latest consumer demands quickly without the need for new physical network connections. TNS already provides alphyra with dial-up network services across Europe and this is a logical extension of our relationship."