Vonage with Linkpoint Credit Card Machine

Posts: 126

Anyone every plug one of these into Vonage system? If so, good, bad, ugly? I need to do this, and am just wondering what the past experience and concensus is around here. Would it be best to connect in with fax machine? Thanks in advance.

Posts: 28 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Nov 10, 2004 Posts: 28

I have used both a Hypercom and Tranz terminal with no issues. These systems typically all use very slow data rates and simple protocols, so you shouldn't experience any trouble.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 3

See the problem with Voip and credit card processing is... Voip sends data in packets and some packets drop. Over the phone lines when talking to someone, you will not notice the packet drops. With credit card processing, if 1 packet is dropped, the transaction will fail. Thats just a fact. I have spoken to alot of the manufactors of these terminals to try and protect my merchants before they make a switch. The Linkpoint terminal is a dinosaur with an old modem. This terminal needs to been on a TRUE analog line in order to work properly. I have just finished dealing with this same problem with a large merchant with 286 locations. They lost the ability to process credit cards for 2weeks. Before going to Voip consult your merchant provider.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2006 Posts: 1

Most credit card terminals on the market use analog phone lines, wireless or IP. None that I am aware of work with a Voip or any other digital signal, you might get lucky, but then you might not. ( I work on a terminal support line) You can go straight IP and or wireless (like cellphone, but not really cell phone technology) , but both services are in addition to your merchant account. There are additional security requirements to use these so there are limited choices and your merchant service provider will be the final word on this. And of course you need a specific terminal that will do IP or wireless. So the money you save with Vonage or other Voip system will probably be eaten up with the cost of a new terminal and the monthly service for the data or wireless service.

While the comment about dropped packets is true, most likely the terminal will not even dial. It detects a dial tone by checking line voltage which with an analog phone from your local phone system, is determined by the phone company and is set and maintained by them. Your standard analog phone will probably be just fine.Your local cable company, does no have the same requirements and a Voip system will also no have these requirements. Their voltage may be higher, or lower. Lower, it just won't work, higher and you just might fry the terminal or any other device (fax, fax modem, Tivo, satellite receiver, etc) that plugs into that device. I have never gotten any credit card terminal to work with a Voip system be it an old Tranz to the latest and greatest Dionicas, Nurits and Exadigm. So, before you sign up for the service, do check and with your merchant provider.