There are so many forms of wireless technology available today that knowing what kind of Point of Sale technology your business needs can be confusing, and choosing the best option can be a difficult decision. Generally speaking, wireless point of sale transactions are conducted using one of the four following wireless technologies. Knowing which one is right for your business could mean a huge boost to your bottom line.

CDMA stands for “Code Division Multiple Access,” which is the technology used in cell phones. Using what is known as “spread-spectrum” technology, CDMA transmits radio signals over a widely varied network. It’s how cell signals get their strength and result in a much larger “bandwidth,” or the rate at which data is transferred.

GPRS stands for “General Packet Radio Service” and is also used with cell phone technology. GPRS packages mobile data using “global system for mobile communications, or “GSM.” What does this mean? Based on your location, your cell phone search for and locates “cells” in the immediate area. This is especially useful if you have a mobile business. Perhaps you run a food truck, or a mobile pet grooming business.

Most people have heard the term “Bluetooth Technology,” and have a vague idea of what it is. But why is it called “Bluetooth,” and how does it work, exactly? Bluetooth actually gets its name from the tenth century Viking king known as Harald Blåtand (Scandinavian for Bluetooth) who united parts of Denmark and Norway. What does that have to do with anything, you ask? Think about it. Harald Bluetooth brought two separate and distinct entities together to form a greater nation.

Just as King Harald paired Denmark and Norway, Bluetooth technology pairs communication devices to each other as long as they are “Bluetooth enabled.” Using Bluetooth technology works best when transferring data over short range distances between two or more enabled devices.

Anyone who doesn’t live under a rock likely uses Wi-Fi. We use the term whenever we need to connect to the internet without being hard-wired. While many think the term stands for “wireless fidelity” it was actually coined in 1999 and doesn’t actually stand for anything. It’s an easy, hip way to say “wireless internet connection.” It sounded like “Hi-Fi,” a term short for “High Fidelity,” and it stuck.

Wi-Fi is more than just a wireless internet connection. It can be used to transfer documents from your phone to your printer, it can stream audio and video, and with the right app it can even turn off your lights and close your garage door if you’re not home. It can also be used to run your business more efficiently.

By having a wireless connection along with the right technology and devices to run your business you will spend less time being tethered to a counter, and more time on the floor with your customers.
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