CARD BRIEFS: Bell Atlantic Link Allows Wireless Verification

BEDMINSTER, N.J. - Bell Atlantic Mobile has joined with Firstnet Corp. to provide merchants in the Middle Atlantic states with the ability to perform secure wireless credit card verification using cellular digital packet data technology.

Using a specialized modem from Cincinnati Microwave Inc., merchants can then use Firstnet's Airetrans Transaction Air Connect system and Bell Atlantic's AirBridge Packet service to send and receive information about credit limits or approvals wirelessly in less than six seconds, versus as much as 20 seconds with a typical land line connection.

Unlike other types of wireless transmission, the cellular digital packet data airlink is encrypted for data security.

Firstnet said Airetrans transaction fees are comparable to those using standard land lines, but without the monthly overhead of an installed telephone line.

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