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View Full Version : Pocket PCs go swiping


Andy Sjostrom
04-23-2002, 09:28 PM
<a href="http://www.semtek.com/products-cr-pda-iswipe.html">http://www.semtek.com/products-cr-pda-iswipe.html</a><br /><br />Semtek just released the I-Swipe, a magnetic card reader for Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs. "It interfaces to the serial port at the bottom of the iPAQ, leaving the expansion packs available for other devices. ... The I-Swipe reads magnetic cards encoded to ANSI, ISO, 7811 and 7812, AAMVA and CA DMV cards."<br /><br />New usage scenarios for developers to dive into:<br /><br />"Credit Card Processing <br />POS / Order Desk / Restaurants <br />Medical ID Cards <br />Lead Retrieval <br />Age / ID Verification / Public Safety"<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/swipe.jpg" />

nishka
04-23-2002, 10:11 PM
Semtek just released the I-Swipe, a magnetic card reader for Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs. "It interfaces to the serial port at the bottom of the iPAQ, leaving the expansion packs available for other devices. ... The I-Swipe reads magnetic cards encoded to ANSI, ISO, 7811 and 7812, AAMVA and CA DMV cards."


Interesting product but I don't think it will find much use if it doesn't have a printer attached for receipts..

Paragon
04-23-2002, 10:29 PM
nishka

Very go point. I can only hope that you would be able to IR print to a IRDA printer. Their site makes no mention of it though??

Dave

Heavy Eddie
04-23-2002, 10:56 PM
How easy will it be for criminals to use a device like this and steal credit card information? Not that I'm planning any criminal escapades or anything. :twisted:

Or are these already already widely available?

kagayaki1
04-24-2002, 12:05 AM
I'm thinking if you're a mobile salesperson, you won' t have time to stop and line up an IR port. How about Bluetooth?

Inventor
04-24-2002, 12:20 AM
Why would you want to IRDA or bluetooth to a printer?

You could bluetooth the recipt directly the the customers PocketPC. :lol:

BevHoward
04-24-2002, 01:05 AM
FWIW, mag stripe readers are almost identical to barcode readers, and barcode interfaces such as "wedges" have always been able to attach a mag stripe reader in place of a barcode wand.

The info on a credit card stripe may be coded differently, but I don't think that it contains much more than you would be able to get by reading the card... card number, expiration, name, etc... it's there simply to not have to key it in for every sale.

In addition, many of the better barcode wedges have a serial output option. Long, long ago, I used a "BB Master" wedge, which is about half the size of a pocketpc, in conjuction with a 200LX to input barcode information into a terminal program... was a nice option as the wedge had an external 5v power option, so a rat shack 4"aaa" pack, the wedge, and a custom serial cable provided a solution that did not make any demand on the PDA's power and provided an interface for a variety of wands and scanners.

BevHoward
04-24-2002, 01:10 AM
FWIW, this is simply a step toward paperless point of sale options outside of a fixed location such as a storefront... for example, you want to buy a $500 pot at a craft fair, and this would give the seller a tool to process the sale with a pocketpc rather than using a paper slip embosser.

Perry Reed
04-24-2002, 04:37 PM
nishka

Very go point. I can only hope that you would be able to IR print to a IRDA printer. Their site makes no mention of it though??

Dave


That would be slick. Scan the credit card, use wireless to approve the purchase, and IR to a printer for the receipt.

nishka
04-24-2002, 05:18 PM
That would be slick. Scan the credit card, use wireless to approve the purchase, and IR to a printer for the receipt.


But if you still have to walk over to a printer to get the receipt, what's the point of paying extra to have the swiping done somewhere else? To me it seems easier (and cheaper) to walk to the terminal and swipe there.

I do, however, see some value in the age verification/ID checking capability. That I think shows some promise.

Perry Reed
04-24-2002, 05:35 PM
That would be slick. Scan the credit card, use wireless to approve the purchase, and IR to a printer for the receipt.


But if you still have to walk over to a printer to get the receipt, what's the point of paying extra to have the swiping done somewhere else? To me it seems easier (and cheaper) to walk to the terminal and swipe there.

I do, however, see some value in the age verification/ID checking capability. That I think shows some promise.


You're assuming a desktop printer located somewhere else. I used to work for Webvan (grocery deliveries), and our couriers used Palm-based handhelds from Symbol. They also wore a tiny little receipt printer on their belt and would simply hold the handheld up to the printer to generate a receipt. It worked very well.

PeterOA
04-25-2002, 05:52 AM
I don't know, I just see another means of people swiping debit card data... doesn't anyone remember the duct-tape-and-a-palm solutions?

Dave Conger
04-25-2002, 07:54 AM
Remember, this has applications outside of just credit cards. For instance our school could use it to scan student ID cards (to count people or charge fees for events). It could also be used as a way for exibitors to collect your information form a conference badge,

I agree with kagayaki, Bluetooth really has many more +'s over IR (in not only this application but others as well). Pretty soon you will be able to use Bluetooth with almost any printer where as with IR you have to have a printer with IR on it.