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October 12, 2002
Ensuring secure communications between PoS devices and
central server over GPRS
Pradeep Chakraborty
KARNATAKA -- Bangalore-based DayBegins Engineering
Innovations Pvt Ltd has come out with an innovative
solution called the VMIT that ensures secure communication
between various point-of-sale (PoS) devices or data
terminal equipment (DTEs) and the central server using
wireless. Not only does such a solution lower the entry
barrier, it also imparts flexibility to the user to
quickly deploy PoS devices or DTEs anywhere and anytime
at short notice.
Convergence
Plus caught up with Soumitra Bhattacharjee, CEO, DayBegins
Engineering Innovations for a closer look at the VMIT
solution. Excerpts from an interview:
CP:
Can you elaborate on the VMIT solution?
Soumitra Bhattacharjee: The VMIT solution is
an appliance that ensures secure communication, i.e.,
data encryption and data integrity, between any point-of-sale
(PoS) devices, like ATMs, lottery terminals, money-exchange
counters, with the central server, using the Internet.
The communication is wireless and takes place over GPRS/GSM/CDMA.
Data
security and data integrity is achieved by using virtual
private networks (VPNs). 128-bit encryption is performed
on the data and protocols such as IPSec and general
record encapsulation (GRE) tunneling are employed. PoS
devices communicate very critical data to the central
server, such as credit card number, financial data,
etc. Therefore, the need for data security and data
integrity.
Currently,
the connectivity between PoS devices and the central
server is done through either leased lines or VSATs.
These require high initial investment and higher operating
costs. However, the connectivity through wireless over
GPRS/GSM/CDMA networks does not require any initial
investment and minimal operating costs. Our solution
is pre-integrated with the wireless module.
CP:
Is this solution available over wired as well?
Soumitra Bhattacharjee: Yes, the connectivity
can also be made available on wired networks over the
normal telephone line.
CP:
What sort of investment would be required for installing
your solution?
Soumitra Bhattacharjee: It is around Rs 55,000
and includes the entire box. For example, any VSAT solution
today typically requires Rs 2-3 lakhs as the initial
investment.
CP:
What are your target markets and who are your customers?
Soumitra Bhattacharjee: Our target markets are
all such firms who deploy PoS devices, like banks who
deploy ATMs, lottery terminals, money-exchange counters,
departmental stores, gas stations, etc. Currently, all
such devices are connected either via the VSAT or leased
line. For using this solution, the end user simply connects
his PoS device to the VMIT box, which in turn gets connected
to the mobile service provider.
We
currently have 550 installations in the country. Another
1,000 units will be installed by end of December 2002.
CP:
How much does the end user have to pay?
Soumitra Bhattacharjee: The end user only pays
Rs 55,000, besides the monthly charge to the mobile
operator, as applicable. We are simply using existing
technologies and providing innovative solutions.
The
entry barrier is low and there is flexibility. For instance,
the use of mobile networks ensures that the PoS device
can be installed anywhere. As an example, if you are
having a conference at Holiday Inn, you can quickly
deploy an ATM at the hotel itself for that period only.
Contact:
DayBegins Engineering Innovations Pvt Ltd
Tel: 91-80-662-2283/84/85
Email: enquiry@daybegins.com
Web: www.daybegins.com
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