CAMBRIDGE, England, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Handpoint launches world's most secure mobile point-of-sale for
merchants of all sizes

Handpoint, the mobile payments company, today launched its new Chip and PIN mobile Point-of-Sale (MPOS) system for small, medium and enterprise merchants.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130523/616256 )

Handpoint MPOS offers any merchant, from market traders to multinational retailers, a simple and secure way to accept Chip and PIN card payments with a mobile device. Crucially the solution has been designed to address the complex security and IT requirements of larger merchants.

Handpoint MPOS can be quickly adopted across multiple mobile platforms using the Handpoint API, while enterprise-level security is delivered by a point-to-point encryption (P2PE) on the Handpoint Chip and PIN card reader. Both are key requirements for larger merchants which, to date, have not been met by existing MPOS solutions.

The simple integration and P2PE security of Handpoint MPOS mean merchants can easily add mobile Point-of-Sale to their existing retail check-out systems, while reducing costs for both integration and security compliance.

"Mobile Point-Of-Sale is not just for micro merchants," says David Gudjonsson, CEO and co-founder of Handpoint. "There has been tremendous adoption of MPOS by micro-merchants, but security compliance and IT integration have created cost and complexity barriers for larger merchants. Our system has been designed from the ground up to overcome these challenges; the combination of our API and P2PE security significantly reduces the time and cost it takes for merchants to introduce Chip and PIN payments with mobile devices. This means that all merchants, irrespective of size, can focus on how MPOS can transform the customer experience they provide."

The Handpoint Chip & PIN API enables merchants to easily adopt MPOS across multiple mobile platforms (iOS, Android, PC, WinMobile/WinCE) and integrate MPOS with their existing checkout systems. The API is also supported by an extensive Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK is freely available via the Handpoint website, and allows merchants - through their current retail software providers and developers - to use their existing checkout systems on mobile devices, saving months of development time in the process.

Handpoint MPOS meets the most stringent mobile payment security standards in the world.  It uses point-to-point encryption - immediately encrypting card data on the card reader and transmitting it via Handpoint's PCI-compliant Gateway - in line with the latest PCI P2PE standard. This means merchants can use their existing mobile and PC checkout systems without having to undergo additional costly security certification processes. In fact, compliance with PCI standards will be possible with a simple self-assessment form.

Handpoint MPOS is available immediately for traders, merchants, retail software providers and developers, or acquiring banks in Europe as a white-labeled solution. Full details can be found at handpoint.com.

About Handpoint

Handpoint is an expert in mobile payments with 13 years' experience in the payment market. The company and its senior executives pioneered major innovations in the mobile payments market, including developing Mobile Point-Of-Sale (MPOS) for the airline industry in 2003 and the world's first Chip and PIN mPOS solution for a handheld device at Manchester United FC's stadium in 2007.

Handpoint MPOS offers any merchant, from market traders to multinational retailers, a simple and ultra-secure way to accept Chip and PIN card payments with a mobile device.

Handpoint works closely with major payment players including Visa and MasterCard, and its new MPOS solution meets the most stringent mobile payment security standards in the world.

Follow us on Twitter at @HandpointLtd

For more information, please visit http://www.handpoint.com

For media enquiries:

Please contact Sohaib Ahmed or Laura Snipe at Nelson Bostock Communications
t. +44(0)20-7229-4400
e. handpoint@nelsonbostock.com

SOURCE Handpoint