Digital payments (non-cash-based payments that present bits of information instead of hard currency) have been around for a few decades now. Beginning with the magnetic stripe cards in the 1970s to the Apple and Google Pay systems used today, the way we fork over our earnings has gotten easier and more streamlined.
Now, we are living in an era where digital payments are the norm and are used in just about every situation, from restaurants to movie theatres, stores, and so on. Not that there aren’t a few old-schoolers who prefer cash over paying digitally or online!
The Pax D177, from the house of PAX Technologies (founded in 2000), is yet another addition to the list of digital payment options. Despite its retro look, it’s battery-powered, compact and allows for easy payment on the go. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Let’s find out..!
Design and Build Quality
When we think of the term design, we are not only considering a device’s outer build or ‘shell’ but also the materials used inside to give it the processing power it needs.
The Pax D177 was built especially for the still ever-growing brick-and-mortar retail environment — people still like to look in shops, it seems. With this in mind, the Pax is designed to be easy to handle, and its lightweight structure makes it easy to carry and take payments from wherever you are. This is also a bonus for hospitality if your customers want to pay the bill whilst seated at a restaurant.
In short, the Pax is slimmer and smaller than many models but packs all the payment features necessary for a small business. For the full design optics, check out the features below.
- Weight: 100g
- Contactless + Chip & PIN** + Magnetic strip (optional)
- 7in display with optional e-signature
- Battery: 750mAh / 3.7 V
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Physical keypad
- PCI 5.x certification
Payment Acceptance Services
Contactless system:
Contactless payment has become a big thing in recent years, adding even more convenience to the shopping experience. This payment type uses what is called the RFID or the Radio Frequency Identification system. This allows a card to interact with the card reader (installed inside the payment integrator). When it is held near the RFID (tapped on it or waved near it), the transaction takes place through the merchant’s point-of-sale system.
The big difference is that this does away with the usual chip-and-pin security system, which makes you enter a secure four-digit number before the payment is taken. Pax can do this easily (in fact, it can also take QR and coupon codes) as well as chip and pin payments.
Chip and PIN system:
Chip and PIN cards all have a microchip along with the magnetic stripe. This strip contains all the information about the account or cardholder, such as their name, account number, and card expiration date.
Here, when a customer wants to make a payment, they insert their card in the machine, which then reads all of their information and requests them to input a unique 4 numbers PIN.
After PIN verification is successful, the card machine communicates with the chip inside the card to initiate payment. This dispatches the transaction data from any business or personal to the point of sale cardholder’s bank and verifies that all payments are approved.
The amount will then be released to the bank account within 3 – 5 working days once the funds have been approved. Pax can take all these payments directly when set up to deposit money in your account.
Magnetic stripe card
A magnetic stripe card is a plastic or paper identification, credit, or debit card, usually about 2 inches by 3 inches. The embedded data is saved in an iron particle strip on plastic film running along the back. Like a debit card or credit card, the embedded data is decoded when you swipe the card through the slot on an electronic reader before being approved or declined by said reader.
Like other forms of electronic encrypted payment, Pax can easily read these cards.
QR Code Payments:
QR (Quick-response) codes create an abstract pixel ‘mess’ where each part of the QR encodes some information relevant to the desired transaction. For instance, in the case of digital payments, this could relate to the specific merchant’s details, transaction details and so on. For the most part, the QR code (for payment acceptance) has commands that relate to these transactions.
QR codes can be created by anyone for their business needs, or for any predetermined/ determined value. The QR code opens a payment link, confirms the payment, or performs any operation as mentioned. Just have the customer scan it and pay (maybe using the Pax if you decide to buy one).
Connectivity Options
The Pax D177 offers a selection of connectivity choices such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3G/4G connection for your smartphone device, and so on.
Extra features included in the Pax D177:
- Printer: It has a built-in thermal printer that can generate receipts.
- Battery: The Pax has a solid battery, so it can operate for hours on end without needing constant recharging.
- Security: The Pax comes with additional security measures to secure the safety of essential customer data (a must-need in today’s risky hacker environment).
- Software patches: Pax regularly releases updated versions of software that address and fix any problem or vulnerability discovered in order to secure functionality.
Limitations & Considerations
Even though the Pax D177 has a very good feature set, you’ll need to keep in mind a few of its limitations, too:
- The smallest of all sizes: The smaller screen sometimes hinders any retailer or restaurateur from showing additional information or promotional ads, like on larger payment machines.
- Speed of processing: The processing speed is usually quick, but this may depend on the network bandwidth and transaction complexity.
- Lack of variability: The Pax might lack some variability compared to more expensive versions.
Conclusion
Pax D177A is a great all-rounder with an excellent value-for-money payment terminal. It is perfect for those who tend to run their business on the go, such as simall businesses and mobile vendors. Yet, for merchants with specific requirements, another more powerful choice may be more appropriate. In the end, whether or not the Pax D177 is right for you will depend on your business needs and budget.
Screen Protectors
ScreenShield provides a range of high-quality custom-made screen protectors for Pax D177, bringing you brands such as Optic+, which includes Anti-Glare, Nano Glass, Premium Film and Blue Light Blocking screen protectors, as well as Clear Diamond Anti-Viral screen protectors.
There are plenty of options for protecting your Pax screen, should you choose to buy one. Anti-Glare, in particular, can help keep your screen visible even in the middle of summer when dealing with outdoor customers. Check out the range on our website for more details.
Our screen protectors are also available for shipping in New Zealand, Australia and the USA!
