POS Terminal - Definition and Overview

EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale) is a device by which sales transactions can be directly debited to the customer's bank account at the point of sale, through the use of a debit card (generally the same card used with ATMs). Merchants using EFTPOS can also offer cashout facilities to customers, where a customer can withdraw cash along with their purchase. EFTPOS are sometime also called POS Terminal or Payment Terminal and must not be confused with traditionnel Point of sale.

The customers card is swiped through a card reader and the merchant usually enters the amount of the transaction before the customer enters their account and PIN number. There is usually a short delay while the EFTPOS terminal contacts the server (over a phone line or mobile connection) before a message of Accepted or Declined is returned. Often, at peak shopping times (for example the last shopping day before Christmas), the system can become overloaded and the delay will become extended or even timeout.

EFTPOS could be seen a major driver of a cashless society in these countries. EFTPOS is so wide-spread and so commonly used that it is necessary to advertise "cash only - no EFTPOS" for events or locations where it is not available. Mobile EFTPOS is now used by certain taxi companies, pizza delivery outlets and stall holders at festivals, allowing EFTPOS transactions to be carried over the mobile network.

A criticism of the EFTPOS system from a customers point of view are the charges that are levied on every transaction. With fees of around 25 to 50 cents per transaction, it is wise to limit EFTPOS usage, yet there are many many thousands of people in New Zealand and Australia who routinely use EFTPOS for all transactions, no matter how small, presumably spending a high proportion of their incomes on EFTPOS fees.

EFTPOS in some countries

The EFTPOS system is highly popular in New Zealand, and to a lesser extent Australia, with terminals at most bars and self-service terminals at 24 hour unmanned petrol pumps for example. The Bank of New Zealand introduced EFTPOS to New Zealand in 1985 through a pilot scheme with petrol stations. New Zealand now has more EFTPOS terminals per head of population than any other country on earth.

There is a similar system in Canada called Interac.

Some EFT/POS Manufacturers

• Axalto (http://www.axalto.com)
• EFTPOS (http://www.eftpos.com)
• Hypercom (http://www.hypercom.com/)
• Ingenico (http://www.ingenico.com/)
• Sagem (http://www.sagem.com)
• Trintech (http://www.trintech.com)
• Verifone (http://www.verifone.com/)
• Thales (http://www.thales-esecurity.com)