Procedure for Wireless Credit Card Transaction Systems in Chicago

Author: Department of Consumer Services

Pursuant to Rules and Regulations for Affiliations (pdf 42k) Rule No. 5.3 and Rules and Regulations for Public Vehicle License Holders (pdf 195k) Rule No. 25c, all taxicabs must be fitted with equipment which allows drivers to accept all major credit cards, debit cards, "smart cards" and other electronic methods of payment. Equipment must first be approved by the Department.

If you are a vendor and would like to have your equipment approved , you must first submit a written proposal which includes equipment to be used, software, price breakdown per unit, as well as any and all ancillary charges (such as service fees). We will then contact you to set up an appointment where you must present a live demonstration of the working solution. You will then receive a letter from us either approving or disapproving your solution. If your solution has been approved, you may then contact one of the affiliations to begin pilot program testing.

As part of the pilot program, the vendor must provide equipment free of charge during the pilot program phase. Affiliation and/or medallion owners are responsible for any associated airtime/service fees. Once your equipment successfully passes pilot program phase, the vendor may begin selling its wireless credit card solution to the affiliations/medallion owners.

Note: Enforcement date of installation and activation of approved wireless credit card systems commenced on June 1, 2004 . Licensed affiliated taxicab vehicles in the City must have installed and active approved wireless credit card systems by the June 1st date. Departments of Police, Aviation, Consumer

As of August 24, 2004 , the following companies/equipments were fully approved for wireless credit card transaction program (note again that to receive full approval, vendors' wireless credit card solution package must first successfully pass a pilot program with an affiliation):

System: Uses Motorola Nextel's Java enabled handsets (i50sx, i55sr, i85s, i90c, etc.) Printer and swiper housed in one unit (portable). Power can be hardwired into vehicle. Takes advantage of Nextel's data service package to send and receive authorizations. Can also use cellular and dispatching capabilities of the phone for separate costs. Contact: Robert Wallace at Aircharge, 866-718-2800 or 847-855-1483. Aircharge's Nextel wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full

CMP-1000T). All inclusive unit. Built in thermal printer. Direct serial cable input to newer Pulsar meters or manual input of fares. Works off of cellular (CDMA - Verizon Express Net data package) frequency. GPS with readout screen. Voice prompt and confirmation. Smart card and RF Card (contact and contactless) built in and active. Contact: W. K. Choi at C&C Enterprise, 82-2-2204-9750. Note: C&C Enterprise's Smartchecker Wireless Taxi Payment Terminal system has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full

System: LinkPoint 9000 (or its updated equivalent. LinkPoint 9100) mobile handheld POS system. Fully integrated and functional credit and debit card processing unit. Built in thermal printer. Smartcard ready (9100 model). Contact: Les Charmatz at Cardservice International at 312-643-5092/97. Note: Cardservice International's LinkPoint 9000/9100 system has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: eCharge Wireless Credit Card Processing System by Wireless Web, Inc. Uses Motorola Nextel's Java-enabled handsets (i50sx, i55sr, i80s, i85s, i90c, i95c or other handsets). Printer and swiper housed in one portable unit and is AC/DC and rechargeable NiMh battery powered. Takes advantage of Nextel's data network to send and receive authorizations. Handsets can also be used for cellular and two-way direct connect capabilities for separate costs. Contact: Jeff Condon or John T. Jones at cellular.com at 847-774-3663 or 630-675-1186. Note: cellular.com's eCharge Wireless Credit Card Processing System by Wireless Web, Inc. has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval.

System: Magnetic card reader, wireless modem and antenna. Fare information is downloaded from meter and sent for authorization through company owned/leased towers. Contact: Chris Plunkett at BITSPoint, Inc., 773-282-3565. CX2 Technologies/BITSPoint, Inc's wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: Finite Technology's Easy Credit system. Magnetic card reader and thermal printer coupled with Palm m100 hand held device. Wireless information sent via existing 2-way radio utilizing Radiotrac's data communication system. No additional monthly charges for transmission of data. Contact: Lan Nguyen at Finite Technology, 719-547-7269. Note: Finite Technology's Easy Credit wireless credit card system has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: Gleike Mini taxi meter, card reader, wireless modem and antenna. Credit card authorization transmitted through CDPD or cellular frequency. Meter fare information and printer are housed in one unit. GPS ready. Contact: Claude Ricard at Gleike, 847-835-7055. Note: Gleike's Mini Taximeter wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: IPS taxi payment terminal (Model: IPS-1001). All inclusive unit. Built in thermal printer. Direct serial cable input to newer Pulsar meters or manual input of fares. Works off of cellular (CDMA - Verizon Express Net data package) frequency. GPS with readout screen. Voice prompt and confirmation. Smart card and RF Card (contact and contactless) built in and active. Contact: Jay Yum at CDS at 847-413-1889. Note: IPS, Inc's wireless taxi payment terminal (IPS-1001) has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full

System: LinkPoint 9000 (or its updated equivalent. LinkPoint 9100) mobile handheld POS system. Fully integrated and functional credit and debit card processing unit. Built in thermal printer. Smartcard ready (9100 model). Status: Full Approval

System: Mobile Knowledge (GMSI) 4122 mobile data terminal (MDT). Integrated with Pulsar 2020r or Centrodyne Smart Meter. External card reader is attached to MDT. Credit card authorization is transmitted through dedicated (non-leased) wireless data frequencies. Meter fare is downloaded through connection from the meter to the MDT. Receipt is generated from the meter's printer or ancillary thermal jet printer. Contact: Travis Gray, 613-287-5020, ext. 1033. Note: Mobile Knowledge's 4122 wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: Mobile Knowledge (GMSI) 4022 mobile data terminal (MDT). Integrated with external thermal jet printer (DTP-100S S'Print smart printer). External card reader is attached to MDT. Credit card authorization is transmitted through dedicated (non-leased) wireless data frequencies. Contact: Art Berkwitt at Checker Taxi Association, 312-733-4790 or Kelly Douglas at Yellow Cab Management, 312-225-8915. Note: Mobile Knowledge/Checker/Yellow wireless credit card system has been fully approved and successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full

System: Mobile Knowledge (Sigem) Emerald mobile data terminal (MDT) integrated with (newer model) Pulsar and Centrodyne Meters. Swiper unit built into MDT. Credit card authorization transmitted through dedicated (non-leased or cellular wireless data frequencies. Meter fare information is downloaded through connection from the meter to the MDT. Receipts are printed from meter's printer (or ancillary thermal jet printer). Contact: Travis Gray, 613-287-5020, ext. 1033. Note: Mobile Knowledge's Emerald wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: Sapphire Series 6000 mobile data terminal (MDT). Works off of Windows CE operating system. Color LCD terminal. Contact: Travis Gray, 613-287-5020, ext. 1033. Note: Mobile Knowledge's Sapphire wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully competed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: RIM 950 Interactive two-way pager fitted with a magnetic card reader. Receipts are printed from meter's printer (or ancillary thermal jet printer). Alphanumeric paging, e-mail and faxing capability. Contact: Michael Stadnicki at nextdayfunding.com, 800-422-5005. Note: Nextdayfunding's RIM 950 wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

TX36 taxi meter wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

System: Magnetic card reader, wireless modem and antenna. Fare information is downloaded from meter and sent for authorization through Motient network. Receipts are printed from meter's printer. Also works directly with Centrodyne's Silent 620 taximeter (with thermal jet printer). Contact: Lan Nguyen at U.S. Wireless Data/Finite Technology, 719- 547-7269. U.S. Wireless Data/Finite Technology's wireless credit card system has been fully approved and has successfully completed its pilot program phase. Status: Full Approval

As of June 23, 2004 , the following companies/equipments were approved for pilot program phase (note that companies listed below may or may not be involved in active pilot programs with affiliation(s)):

System: Uses Nurit 3010 or equivalent units. Swiper and thermal jet printer in one unit. Contact: Gary Peterson at Arlington Heights Merchant Banc, 847-398- 6210. Status: Pilot Program Phase

System: Bark Research's Keyslide POS system. Wireless bluetooth capability. Tranmits using GSM technology (available data frequencies on TMobile, AT&T and other wireless companies). Also accepts debit cards via handheld wireless bluetooth enabled swiper/data input device. Bluetooth enabled thermal printer. Contact: Richard Stack at Bark Research, 949-254-6939. Status: Pilot Program Phase

System: Mobile display terminal/meter/GPS. All-in-one equipment. Credit card authorization can be transmitted through several available options. Unit can be used as complete dispatching solution. Receipts can be printed through standard thermal printers. Smart card and debit card ready. Note: CanTech's meters have not yet been approved by the Department. No current testing of the meter is being conducted by the Department. Contact: Scott Wallace at CanTech, 905-335-4090, Ext. 227. Status: Pilot Program Phase

System: CardReady Express' TransAKT Wireless POS system (models T1 and T4). Device works off of CDMA or Nextel transmission. Wireless thermal printer (via infrared connection). Built in pin pad for debit transaction. Contact: CJ DeLeon at CardReady Express at cj@cardreadyexpress.com . Status: Pilot

System: Lipman USA Inc.'s, Nurit 8000 POS system. Handheld unit with digital signature capture capability. Instantaneous thermal jet printer printout. Uses GSM technology. Debit card active and smart card ready. Contact: Jay Yum at Card Data Services (CDS) at 847-413-1889. Status: Pilot Program Phase

System: MobileScape hand held charge device. Thermal jet printer encased in one unit. Touch pad screen (stylus activated). Signatures captured and printed on receipt. Internet based management function to keep track of charges. Instant reprint of exact receipt (including captured signature) from the web. Contact: Martin Estill at Commerciant, 713-735-5500. Status: Pilot

System: Wireless Edge Contour Mobile Terminal (mobile display terminal - MDT). Works as a full functioning dispatch system. GPS enabled and ready. Transmits using AT&T's GPRS 3G system. Connects to thermal printer or direct data download from most all meters. Drivers are issued a contactless ID cards for accurate accounting. Bluetooth installed and ready. Instantaneous web results of transactions. Contact: Richard Lanzetta at Wireless Edge, 608- 877-1568. Status: Pilot Program Phase

System: Wireless Edge's MTT 1000 portable point of sales (POS) device. GPS enabled and ready. Transmits using AT&T's (or T-Mobile's) GPRS 3G system. Infrared thermal printer. Bluetooth installed and ready. Instantaneous web results of transactions. Information stored on SIM cards. Contact Richard Lanzetta at Wireless Edge, 608-877-1568: Pilot Program Phase