If you build it, they will come. This saying was true in a favorite movie a few years back about baseball. And it is also true in the world of credit card processing software, with companies designing programs that work for merchants of all types - from the mom and pop-home business all the way up to the collection functions of the U.S.government. And with the burgeoning e-commerce (when will we stop and admit this phenomenon has finally arrived?), it is indeed a growth time for companies who specialize in processing transactions via one of the most common pieces of equipment in any officeóthe personal computer.

So whether you are catering to an exclusively Internet-based company, the local Four Corners Feed Store, or to a business with multiple terminals and locations, we suggest you carefully check out the following information about companies who specialize in credit card processing software. You will find that there is something for everyone, and that it could prove to be a vital part of your professional sales presentation.

There are four companies most associated with this part of the processing business: Atomic Software, CyberCash, Tellan, which CyberCash is in the process of acquiring, and Go Software. Then there are the new companies in the industry, many with names that you may already recognize, who are attempting to gain their share of the market. The following mini-profiles should provide you with information about the programs that are offered and give you direction about who to contact in the selected businesses. Pricing is listed, where available.

Atomic Software

Atomic Software is celebrating its sixth year as a leading developer of PC-based electronic payment software for the retail, mail/phone order, Internet, grocery, fast food, and medical practice management markets. Atomic has created the Authorizer family of electronic commerce software products that offers the easiest way to perform credit and debit card authorizations, stored value card transactions, check verification and guarantee, multi-merchant, and electronic settlement. Atomic offers versions for the windows 95/98/NT and DOS operating platforms as well as file interface options to other systems such as UNIX, VMS, and the AS-400.

Atomic's Authorizor for Windows is one of the first true 32-bit credit authorization systems available for Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. It authorizes credit transactions with a standard modem in just seconds using a PC order entry system, Internet Commerce server, or PC-based cash register. Authorizor then saves the transactions for electronic settlement into your bank account.

Authorizor for Windows can operate in stand-alone mode or can be integrated with POS, order entry, or other invoicing application. Software developers can purchase an Application Program Interface (API) to integrate and offer electronic payment processing with their existing software. The Authorizor API supports both a file interface and a DLL interface to insure easy program integration. Authorizor program supports a host of popular payment processing peripherals designed to provide more secure transactions and increased customer through-put at the POS. These peripherals include POS keyboards with magnetic card readers, RS-232 magnetic card readers, MICR check readers, PIN pads, and most standard receipt printers.

Atomic Software can be reached by phone at (678)942-2600, or by e-mail at info@atomic-software.com.

CyberCash/Tellan

Virginia-based CyberCash has one of the most recognized names in the e-commerce industry. And the fact that company executives are popping up all over as authorities in Internet Commerce, even testifying in front of the U.S. Senate, speaks for their credibility. And how many other credit card processing software companies have actually run commercials on national television to promote their products? (See "30 Seconds of Fame", future issue.)

CyberCash may soon become even more of a force in the software industry as they announced on June 30, 1999, that it will acquire San Jose-based Tellan Software, Inc. in a merger expected to be completed by mid-July.

Commenting on the importance of software, Jim Condon, president and COO of CyberCash said, "This is an excellent strategic fit for CyberCash. The acquisition of Tellan strengthens our leadership in the payment software market. Further, the Tellan product line enhances CyberCash's position as the leading provider of solutions that enable merchants to conduct e-commerce simply in both the physical and virtual worlds."

San Jose, CA-based Tellan, a privately-held company founded in 1992, manufactures and distributes a robust line of electronic payment solutions for Internet Commerce, business establishments using PCs as their electronic cash registers, and mail order and home-based businesses, as well as global enterprises wishing to consolidate payment applications into a centralized payment platform.

Of the merger, Donald Neff, president and CEO, Tellan Software, said, "By combining the technological expertise of Tellan and CyberCash, as well as our companies' broad channel relationships and investment potential, CyberCash is poised to dominate the payment software market for years to come."

CyberCash was founded by Bill Melton, who is also the CEO. Melton said the long-term future of software-based payment systems is far more promising than that of hardware-based point-of-sale terminals and cash registers. "Similar to other proprietary hardware solutions, the days of the stand-alone, dedicated payment terminal are numbered, and the advent of the Internet as a key shopping outlet only makes that more certain," said Melton. Neff, who was a key member in 1980 at the Visa introduction of bank terminals, concurs that the future is in software and integration.

Since April 1995, CyberCash has been servicing credit cards securely over the Internet. CyberCash links the storefront with the credit card processor, providing authorizations in real time at the time of purchase. After the sale, CyberCash provides a full HTML interface for capturing and settling transactions. CyberCash provides the broadest connectivity in the business with connections to over 95% of acquiring banks through the various processors such as First Data Corporation, Paymentech, Global Payment System, Vital, Checkfree, Wells, NOVA, NPC, and Sligos (European).

Small credit card payments, in the $.25-cent to-$10 range, are uneconomical to process. And most people don't want to put payments that small on their credit cards to begin with. But that's exactly the type of transaction CyberCash's CyberCoin service was built to handle. So, for example, merchants can use the CyberCoin service to provide "pay-per-view" areas; sell special high value content, such as reports; sell small programs and utilities online, sell one day passes to sites that otherwise require monthly subscriptions, even offer pay-per-play games. The CyberCoin service provides special tools to deliver information to the user, which can either be the content the user is paying for, or an electronic receipt that provides access for the user to get to the content elsewhere.

CyberCash's newest service, PayNow, provides for payments directly from a checking account. The service can be applied to both consumer and business purchases. It can be used to sell hard goods, digital goods, or even as a convenient way to present and pay "real world" bills online.

Meanwhile, Tellan has become famous for both their PCAuthorize and MacAuthorize programs, but has vigorously been pushing their WebAuthorize software packs since the launch of that product in 1998. Tellan's Web site even offers the ability to download free demos of all of their programs to give curious financial services types the opportunity to try it in their own hands before making the commitment. In addition to coming in Windows (3.1. 95 and NT) , Tellan is one of the few companies who also makes this product for those owning Macintosh. The software requirement for Mac users seems simple enough, version 7.0 and above.

Tellan's software comes designed specifically for single user or multi-user, and also has PC MacAuthorize Hub for users who they call "developers", which means anyone who is trying to integrate the program into a system they are already working with. All transactions on PC MacAuthorize are stored on the PC's hard drive for better reporting. With this feature, bank reconciliation and chargeback searches can be easily achieved.

Another highlight worth mentioning is the address verification feature. PC/MacAuthorize allows you to include the street address and the zip code with credit card authorization. When the program returns the authorization, it includes a code, which tells how close the address matched to the cardholder address. This can dramatically reduce the incidence of fraud and chargebacks, since it's easy to get a card number, but much more difficult to get a corresponding address. For merchants who process large volumes and don't need immediate authorizations, batch processing is available within a separate database.

For more information about CyberCash, visit their Web site at www.cybercash.com, or call 800-666-5777. For more information about Tellan Software, Inc., contact them at (408) 274-1110, or visit their Web site at www.tellan.com.

Go Software

There are three main bread and butter products offered by Savannah, Georgia's Go Software. They are PC Charge, Win-Charge and active-Charge. All pretty much do the same thing, meaning process credit cards and other financial service functions, but there are some subtleties that make one package better for a specific business type than another. For example, PC Charge, the core product of the GO Software product line, can be used by either single or multi-user, can be one terminal or networked, or even used in a call center. PC Charge supports check guarantee and verification services, along with ATM/debit card transactions. WinCharge, on the other hand, is designed for the single user - such as a small or home based business. Win-Charge can handle all of the business of credit card processing, and is even great at performing recurring billing functions. So, for single user businesses, it's Win-Charge. Multi-user operations should opt for PC Charge. Both products are capable of doing online Internet transactions.

Then there is active-Charge. active-Charge is Go Software's encore product designed to integrate with other business applications. Typical candidates for integration with active-Charge are point-of sale systems, order entry systems, accounting systems, and any other business application where payment information is handled. Go Software also has a suite of credit card processing software designed specifically for the Internet. IP-Charge, Secure-Charge and Virtual-Charge are all successful software programs. Secure-Charge plays on the fact that it is not a "real-time" program, which could be more appropriate and cost effective for businesses that don't ship their merchandise right away.

For more information about Go Software or any of their programs, contact them at sales@gosoftinc.com, or, by telephone at (912)925-4048.

The New Guys

The following profiles represent companies who are relative newcomers to the credit card processing software business. We hope to show their similarities and differences, and we urge you to contact them or check out their Web sites if interested in further information.

21st Century Resource

21st Century's "POS Charge" for Windows 95/NT, 3.1, 3.11 is a sophisticated software program that allows processing of all major credit cards, ATM/Debit cards and even performs check guarantee right from the company PC. The software then deposits the transaction amounts into existing bank accounts. With the basic system, entering the customers' name, address, and card number and expiration date is pretty much all there is to do. POS Charge takes care of the rest, including dialing out, submitting the input data, and obtaining approval. Funds are normally available in two business days.

If yours is a small business, this is all you need to know about POS Charge. But if you want the advanced features of networking, multiple terminals, or "real time' processing, POS Charge can also handle the task with more sophisticated software.

Prices range from $295 for the basic package to $795. Paying $1095 will give you the ability to do Internet authorizations. 21st Century also supplies a wide range of other POS equipment. Rates and fees vary. Call (888) 871-4558 or e-mail info@21cr.com for more information.

Alpha Data Utility, Inc. (ADU)

"Recognized Quality," "Advanced Technology" and "A System to Grow" are all sayings listed on the Web page for ADU. Judging from the volume of business they do, over $1 billion in sales annually, these statements appear to be true. ADU offers a wide array of products, including not only a POS authorization system, but an A/R billing System, automatic collections system, five-level check authorization, database marketing, and automated online customer service. The full ADU credit card system is available for the AS/400. Whether you have an existing AS/400 System or wish to acquire a new AS/400 for stand-alone credit processingóADU has a solution. The ADU Credit System is a total Credit Management System that can run on either a Mainframe or AS/400.

ADU offers an impressive list of clients, including Miller's Outpost, Ann Taylor and Jacobson Stores. For more information about ADU, contact then at (781) 829-9411, or check out their Web site at www.aducredit.com.

Appropriate Solutions, Inc.

Appropriate Solutions, Inc., publishes two families of credit card processing software designed specifically for use with versions of Microsoft Windows from Windows 3.11 to NT 4.0. CN!Express™, a transaction oriented solution for low to mid-volume customers, and CreditNow!™, a batch-oriented solution for high-volume customers.

The decision to choose either CreditNow! Or CN!Express is based on the company's business model, volume, and merchant processor. CN!Express is a general purpose credit card processing application that can support various merchant processors, and process both single and multiple transactions over low-speed telephone lines. CreditNow!, on the other hand, is a specialized processing application that supports the batch-oriented mode of Paymentech. It is designed for high-speed applications.

Appropriate Solutions also provides customized software for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. There are informative home pages to view for each of the primary programs offered by Appropriate Solutions. They can be accessed easily via the company's Web site at www.appropriatesolutions.com. You can also reach Appropriate Solutions, Inc., by e-mail at asi@AppropriateSolutions.com.

BlueMoney Software Corporation

The Titanium Commerce Server for Unix software program from BlueMoney is a cross-platform product for building commercial Web sites, displaying e-catalogs, generating orders, and processing payments securely over the World Wide Web. To help companies transform their Web sites into Internet store fronts, customers are also able to create they're own BlueMoney wallets, with which they can travel effortlessly from Internet business to Internet business. Titanium includes templates, which facilitate development of payment applications. Businesses can modify templates to create new online images quickly and easily. Titanium connects to the "Blue Money Wallet," which neatly organizes the financial transactions and processes them securely over the Internet in "real time" while the customer awaits authorization. Credit card numbers, shipping addresses, digital IDs and other necessities are a breeze with the Titanium program. Titanium works with First Data Corporation, the largest credit card processing company in the nation, to provide the optimum in processing assistance. BlueMoney is also partnered with Card Service International, to accommodate live storefronts with traditional transactions.

For more information on Titanium Commerce Server for Unix, contact BlueMoney Software Corporation, visit their Web site at www.bluemoney.com, or send them an e-mail at sales@bluemoney.com.

Bottomline Technologies

The PayBase-Payment Server 32 suite of services from Portsmouth, New Hampshire's Bottomline Technologies not only handles credit card processing, but also allows for electronic check processing, checks over the internet, and an impressive array of other e-commerce functions. Utilizing Microsoft Windows NT, Bottomline's coordinated product line enables you to integrate numerous applications throughout your company into one single, secure package. The PayBase 32 program is designed to be a flexible solution, and is available in both Workstation and Enterprise versions.

For more information about PayBase 32, contact Bottomline Technologies at (800) 243-2528, or visit their Web site at www.bottomline.com.

Deluxe

Deluxe is one of the largest manufacturers of checks in the entire world. As if that wasn't enough, they are also involved in the world of EFT, check authorizations and guarantee. Secure transactions has been a theme of this company, and that is one of the reasons they partnered with Connex Software to make DEPS (Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems), the Deluxe solution in credit card processing software.

Debit cards and credit cards are among the fastest growing products in the banking and retail industries. As the number of cards in circulation continues to increase, so too does the need for a comprehensive processing and management system. Deluxe brings a variety of organizational solutions to meet the individual needs of an institution. The Connex/DEPS credit card processing and management software provides bankcard issuers and acquirers with a flexible, cost-effective online system for managing transaction processing and data associated with bankcards. DEPS can also be used in conjunction with a proprietary card system, as in the case of a retail store, or a bank card system, by supporting the institution's Visa and MasterCard operations.

For more information about DEPS, contact Deluxe at (888)-333-5893 or visit their Web site at www.deluxe.com.

Digital Courier Technologies, Inc. (formerly Datacard)

The name of this exclusively Internet commerce service from Digital Courier Technologies, Inc. (DCTI) is called netClearing, and is comprised of software that contains credit card payment processing procedures and online services, such as inventory control updates and payment reconciliation. One of the unique things about this program is that there is no need to install client software to your own PC - every transaction is handled effortlessly via the Internet through DCTI's data center in Salt Lake City. Customers can receive reports of the number of transactions processed, the amount of dollars moved, and other perimeters. Users of netClearing pay a small transaction fee, which ranges anywhere from one-half cent per dollar to 2 cents per dollar.

For more information about DCTI and netClearing , call (435) 655-3617, or visit their Web site at www.dcourier.com.

Maximized Software, Inc.

If reputation alone was how a company prospered, then MaxCharge standard edition by Maximized Software, Inc., would have a leg up on the rest of the industry. The Oakland, California based company was founded in 1992 by Ken Spreitzer, a computer techie who also happens to also be the creator of the popular "Uninstaller for Windows" - a best selling utility program.

Spreitzer saw another opportunity with the fantastic growth of e-commerce, and the MaxCharge product was born. With MaxCharge, e-merchants are given the ability to quickly build commerce-enabled Web sites. The best part: no modems and no phone lines. MaxCharge is truly designed for business over the Internet. Transactions are submitted securely using SSL technology to protect the customer's credit card information. MaxCharge submits the transaction via the Web server's existing Internet connection, rather than requiring the use of a modem to reach a connection for each dial-up transaction. This yields a substantial improvement in processing time, with the average Internet transaction being under ten seconds.

The cost for the software seems reasonable enough: $295 per computer, and requires a computer running Windows 95 or later, Windows NT 3.51 or later.

For more information about MaxCharge or Maximized Software, Inc., call (888) MAX-SOFT, or, send e-mail to info@maximized.com.

Shift4 Corporation

$$$ IN THE BANK (pronounced "Dollars in the Bank") is the name of the offering that comes from 5-year old Shift4 Corporation. $$$ IN THE BANK functions concurrently as the authorization and settlement gateway for all interfaced point-of-sale and property management systems. Since every transaction flows through $$$ IN THE BANK, all vital card and data authorization information is captured by the PC and is then archived, easily retrievable for charge back defense and reporting. The software program handles every major card type, as well as private label and debit cards. With $$$ IN THE BANK, you can even change financial institutions whenever business dictates, enabling the client the ability to shop for the best rates and services. Further, customer service is paramount at Shift4 Corporation, and in addition to the 24-hour, 365 days a year support staff, an "on-call" supervisor is always available to talk with customers.

For more information about Shift4 Corporation and $$$ IN THE BANK, call 702-597-2480, or, send an e-mail message to sales@shift4.com.

TECH-COMM

Inter-Mark is the name of a software product family developed by TECH-COMM, Inc., to assist companies in deploying internal and/or Internet based transaction-processing applications. Inter-Mark provides the basic components needed for all types of transaction processing applications including order processing, product inquiry applications (product availability & lead times etc.), catalog sales, software sales and distribution, online ticket sales, and reservation systems (hotel, motel, etc.). The software is also capable of certain other "smart" functions that allow for better customer service (such as order status inquiry, management of customer accounts and tire recommendations for specific automobiles). There are also internal company applications, such as a company telephone directory and online policies and procedures posted online.

The cost for the complete Inter-Mark software package is $2995. For more information about TECH-COMM, or Inter-Mark, call (205) 250-8053 or, e-mail info@tech-comm.com.

VeriFone, Inc.

This equipment giant has found a workable solution in meeting the need for credit card processing software. VeriFone, Inc. has developed the Integrated Payment Solution (IPS) to equip retailers, financial institutions, and communications companies with a solution that integrates various forms of electronic payment from the physical point-of -sale to the Internet within a common framework, while also allowing businesses to quickly add and deliver new applications as the market demands.

IPS co-exists with legacy systems, allowing businesses a migration path to utilize emerging Internet technologies without having to dispose of existing systems. The solution utilizes Extensible Markup Language (XML), a sophisticated and flexible Internet protocol, to process payment transactions and has a Web-based user interface that makes it easy to standardize operations. Because IPS streamlines various forms of payment, transactional times and operational costs are reduced. IPS also offers advantages beyond payment in that it gives businesses the ability to pull customer data from transactions and utilize it for marketing purposes.

You can reach VeriFone, Inc., at (408) 496-0444. Their address on the Web is www.verifone.com/products.