Open Solutions launches Canadian POS IP gateway

The POS IP solution expands the company's offering to deliver credit and debit transaction processing in quick service and multi-lane environments in the Canadian marketplace. Open Solutions Canada runs Canada's largest off-premise ATM network and its largest processor of independent POS terminal transactions. Open Solutions introduced IP-connected POS terminal service in 2004 to stay current with the market. The new POS IP Gateway provides an enhanced service, offering both wired and wireless IP connectivity in an end-to-end solution for Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs) and merchants.

Leveraging off high bandwidth DSL or cable connections, the IP Gateway provides the instant transaction response time that is essential in Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) and multi-lane environments. "With credit and debit cards widely accepted across most retail segments, quick service restaurants have become a major growth market in POS terminal placements. Using the IP connection to access our networks for credit and debit authorizations translates in to reduced processing times and lower transaction processing costs in this environment," said Mike Kelso, president of Open Solutions' Payment Solutions Group. He added, "Canadians are among some of the heaviest debit card users in the world and expect to use their credit and debit cards everywhere. Equipping our ISOs with this technology allows them to expand even further into the marketplace."

The solution is attractive to both QSR franchisees and to owners of medium-sized stores because it improves their customer service through reduced check-out times and reduces revenue lost when customers abandon a purchase due to long lines. It also offers merchants the potential to save money on telephone line costs by using cable or high-speed telephone connections to run multiple applications. The gateway supports both native IP POS devices and dial POS devices (through an IP conversion device). The QSR market cannot afford to have terminals that don't complete the transaction when needed and Open Solutions has invested heavily in redundancy to ensure the highest possible end-to-end availability for all transactions.

In addition to providing both wired and wireless IP connectivity, the gateway allows direct connectivity to the Open Solutions Canada network for both individually connected POS devices and for IP Gateways. The Payment Solutions Group manages Canada's largest ATM network and develops and delivers electronic payment products and services internationally, including fast, secure ATM and POS systems residing on a Windows platform using a relational database and Web access for remote management and electronic funds transfer transaction processing, device management and monitoring.