Does everyone who accepts credit cards need a credit card machine?
No. Some merchants who accept credit cards in certain industries, medical offices or other service organizations for instance, may opt for an online terminal allowing for the merchant to access a secure web page and hand enter the customer’s information. Business that accept fax and phone orders would also benefit from the use of an online terminal. For retailers and eCommerce businesses, an online shopping cart with a payment gateway is all you need to accept credit cards on-line. A payment gateway or virtual terminal is an application that authorizes payments while encrypting sensitive information.
