All That's Safe To Print: How Mobile Credit Card Printers Work
Posted on: 23 August 2017
With the advance of phone apps and attachments that accept credit and debit card payments, just about anyone can take and process digital payments now. The attachments include a square, a triangle, and even a rectangle that plug into your phone's audio jack. Just open an app and slide the card to take payment. Wait-what if a customer wants a receipt? Well, now you can print mobile receipts, too. Here is how these printers work.
WiFi Connections
Since there really is no other port into which you can plug another device after you have plugged in the card reader, mobile receipt printers connect via WiFi. It takes a few minutes to connect the printer to your phone and set up the printer option.
Credit Card Paper Dispenser
Built into the mobile receipt printer is a tiny roller with credit card paper. When you have selected "paper receipt" at the end of the transaction, the printer grabs the screen and transaction information and prints the receipt. A copy of the receipt is emailed to you, but can also be emailed to the customer if he or she chooses to have a paper copy as well.
Printer Ink
Like most credit card receipt printers, there are ink cartridges inside these mobile receipt printers. In fact, almost everything you see in a standard receipt printer is present inside a mobile receipt printer. The only difference is that the ink cartridge and other components are smaller and more compact inside the mobile receipt printer.
Security Concerns
Like other credit and debit receipt printers, the mobile printers only print the type of card used (e.g., Visa, Master Card, etc.) and the last four digits on the card. The date of expiration is also printed. Because the device is only connected to your smartphone via WiFi and the app required, your customers can feel quite secure about using debit and credit cards to purchase something from you. Not even you get to see all of the card information on your printer's or phone's screen. Entered numbers and printed numbers appear as "x's" until the last four digits.
Take Your Business Anywhere
Because of these devices and apps, you can take your business anywhere. It is secure on both ends of the transaction. Unless someone clones your phone and knows your passwords, everyone is safe. Never miss another sale because you cannot take payments by debit or credit card.
Share