August 15, 2013
The Need to Know about Interchange Fees
In the past fifty years or so swiping plastic at the store has overrun paying with cash. In the early years of MasterCard and Visa, cash ruled all but since then times have changed. As credit cards grew more popular, merchants felt the need to decide whether to accept cards or the lost sales. Here we are in 2013 and it feels as if all transactions are “virtual.” What do we call all of this? Interchange.
I’m sure you’re now wondering, what are interchange fees? According to Andrew Parrott’s recent article, interchange fees are “payments for handling the transaction between a business’ bank account and cardholder’s bank account.” Not only do these fees cover the conversion of funds into the merchant’s account, but they also cover administrative services along with fraud threats. Variables such as brand, geography, transaction, card or business type all are a part of…
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Mobile Credit Card Processing Lets You Make Sales Anywhere, Anytime
By Andy Phillips, CardFlex
Smartphones are no longer just convenient devices—they’re necessities. A study by Experian in May of 2013 showed that people spend 58 minutes per day on their smartphones, and this applies to consumers and business owners alike. As a merchant, you probably use your smartphone to conduct business—such as checking email, contacting clients, and talking to employees. It only makes sense to integrate your smartphone into customer payment processing with a mobile merchant account.
Mobile credit card processing allows merchants to accept credit card and debit card payments using their smartphones. This fast, affordable process not only gives merchants the ability to easily do business on-the-go, but also gives customers a convenient way to pay.
A Must-Have Technology
Mobile technology is constantly innovating. Customers can shop online using their smartphones, scan coupons, and even find the latest deals without ever getting on a wired computer or a…
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iTransact Will Customize a Plan for You
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to get started or are already processing credit and debit card transactions over the Internet, through a mobile device, or a traditional storefront, iTransact can help. iTransact offers the lowest rates in the industry and on average our merchants save between 10-25%. Our friendly, professional staff will show you how to save money with a customized plan designed to fit your needs perfectly.
We process all of our merchant transactions over the planet’s largest payment processing networks, utilizing such processors as First Data, Global, Paymentech, and Vital. You will be able to offer your customers fast, reliable payment transactions that are secure for both you and them.
We want to assure you that despite our global-level service, iTransact offers hometown-style support. No matter what questions you may have regarding your merchant account, you can call iTransact and receive friendly assistance from our…
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Pay with your Face are you Ready ?
If you missed this in the news yesterday, this was the big story worlds first facial recognition payment software by a Finnish company. The word “Uniqul” comes from Latin word Unicus, which means “the only of its kind”.
The guardian have been quick to ask people’s opinion on this new Facial identification technology being tested in stores and hotels that want to ‘spot’ celebrity customers. Are you OK with shops using software that could recognise you? http://lnkd.in/aP6x_K
Facial identification technology is being tested in stores and hotels that want to ‘spot’ celebrity customers. Are you OK with shops using software that could recognise you?
If you read further you will find that some stores and hotels in London are also trialling facial recognition to identify celebrity clients with a package from NEC a VIP-identification technology designed by NEC IT Solutions
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“You’re Going to Want to Watch This Speech”
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I just finished reading the draft of a speech the President plans to deliver on Wednesday, and I want to explain why it’s one worth checking out.
Eight years ago, not long after he was elected to the United States Senate, President Obama went to Knox College in his home state of Illinois where he laid out his economic vision for the country. It’s a vision that says America is strongest when everybody’s got a shot at opportunity – not when our economy is winner-take-all, but when we’re all in this together.
Revisiting that speech, it’s clear that it sowed the seeds of a consistent vision for the middle class he’s followed ever since. It’s a vision he carried through his first campaign in 2008, it’s a vision he carried through speeches like the one he gave at Georgetown…
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How Intellectual Property Reinforces Inequality
The IP referred to by Stiglitz here is about the licensing of monopolies through the granting of patents. He argues that this type of activity amounts to rent-seeking (economic rent). Rent seeking does not in itself create wealth. Instead it adds to the burden of cost in entrepreneurship. Rent-seeking activities, if not controlled, will lead to monopolies of resources needed for economic activities.
When we use the term IP, we are referring to the knowledge base of social-economic architecture and management for sustainable development.
This is our unique contribution to a communal enterprise. It is not a cost factor. It is a provision to be ‘invested’ to create wealth.
— Simon Pang | Society of Antioch’s
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How Intellectual Property Reinforces Inequality
By JOSEPH E. STIGLITZIn the war against inequality, we’ve become so used to…
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Why non Americans care about America
As a person that is not a citizen of the United States, as well as currently not residing in the US, though I have lived in the United States in the past, a question is oft posed to myself about why I care so much about the United States as compared to my own country (I have two citizenship’s, Canada and the United Kingdom, though I currently call Canada home and am unlikely to ever return to the UK to live).
In order to understand why those outside of the United States do actually care about the country, you need to understand the history of the infamous ‘financial industry’ and the role it plays in the global economy.
Over time, lets say the last 150 years, the center of the global economy changed from one centered defacto in London to one logistically centered in New York. Note that not only…
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Appstar Financial Complaints 