Digital trust service Soltrus Inc. launched two flat-fee credit card processing services aimed at small and medium-sized businesses on Wednesday.
Payflow Pro and Payflow Link allow real-time authorization and processing of retail
credit card payments on store Web sites, according to Riza Chui, product marketing manager at Soltrus.
Both research in Canada and partner Verisign Inc.’s experience over the last two years – where the flat-fee services were “”well-received”” – convinced Soltrus the idea would fly here.
“”A lot of (small and medium businesses) don’t have access to the programming skills necessary”” to integrate credit card payment with their Web sites, Chui said.
The Payflow Link offering processes payment through an HTML link on the retail Web site. The Pro version integrates with a variety of shopping cart and e-commerce platforms. Payflow Link costs $49.95 a month with a $299 setup fee. Payflow Pro costs $149.95 a month with a $399 setup fee.
IDC Canada Ltd. analyst Joe Greene said the offering would address some concerns SMBs have about online transactions.
“”It’s going to help,”” Greene said. “”There is still a huge concern about security (of Web transactions) in small business.””
Greene said online transactions started to take off in the SMB space only after the banks assured the market businesses wouldn’t be liable for fraudulent credit card use. The trust service offered by Soltrus – a partnership of Telus Corp., the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Verisign – might help ensure the legitimacy of buyers, he said.
But it won’t help SMBs get merchant credit card accounts. Small retailers frequently complain about the hoops they have to jump through and the large deposits required for them to start taking credit card payments in the first place. Chui said Soltrus is working with issuers to streamline that process.
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