First Horizon National Corp. is considering expanding its use of cellular modems in its network of automated teller machines.
Michael Marzec, a senior vice president at the Memphis banking company and its manager of electronic banking, said the wireless connection has improved the ATMs' reliability without sacrificing security.
"Our uptime is over 99%, which compares to frame or DSL" hard-wired network connections, Mr. Marzec said.
The ATM software encrypts the entire transaction message for transmission across the wireless network to protect customer information, he said.
Patricia A. Windland, the vice president of ATM installation at First Horizon, said it began working with Ventus Networks Inc. of Norwalk, Conn., in 2006. After conducting a pilot program in the Memphis area, the company installed the vendor's cellular modems on 300 of its 510 machines, mostly at convenience stores and other off-premise locations, replacing conventional telephone lines that used dial-up modems.
The faster connection cut transaction times by about half and eliminated problems in performing remote monitoring and reporting, Ms. Windland said. "With the cellular solution I can proactively call the machine and do any maintenance."
Mr. Marzec said First Horizon is looking at other Ventus products, such as its four-port modem, which would enable the company to connect multiple ATMs in a single location or add other network devices, such as security camera, to a single modem line.
