What is Accelerator™ ?
Accelerator™ provides high speed wireless point-of-sale transaction authorizations as well as file transfer capability for corporate enterprise data. Accelerator may be used as a primary network solution and also as a backup solution for your existing primary network.

How does it work?
Accelerator™ uses Accel Network's Continuum™ routing device to connect remote locations via Accel's private end-to-end, fully encrypted and secure data network to a Merchant's processor or data center. Continuum™ can concentrate up to five POS terminals and or host systems. Continuum™ maintains a persistent connection over Cingular's GSM 3G Network for the first mile and then through our private terrestrial network. Accelerator reduces network response times for authorization transactions from 25-45 seconds down to 6 seconds, providing fast, economical processing.

As a network continuity service Accelerator ensures that the redundant network is there when you need it. We continuously monitor the health status of the connection to you so that when your primary network fails an automatic failover is initiated.

How reliable is the system?
Accel maintains two, carrier class, data centers for redundancy. We also maintain the network and provide tech support on a 24/7 basis. And because the Cingular GSM 3G cloud does not share data channels with voice traffic connections are not dropped due to peak busy cell usage.

Has Accel complied with Industry Standards for network security?
Accel Networks employs a robust information security philosophy designed to protect our customers, partners and our business by ensuring the secure and safe transfer of information. In 2007 Accel completed the PCI Compliance process, this task allowed Accel to become the first and only PCI Compliant Fixed Wireless Network in North America.


Why is Accelerator™ better than other connectivity solutions?
Merchants currently using standard modems over dial up phone lines will find that Accelerator™ greatly increases the speed at which the merchant receives transaction authorizations. Additionally, since Accelerator™ can support multiple terminals over a single persistent connection, merchants may also realize a reduction in monthly phone costs by reducing the number of business lines in their store.

Unlike DSL solutions, the Accelerator™ service is fully managed end-to-end and does not traverse the internet. Also Accelerator can provide service to more customer locations given its dramatically broader coverage than DSL providers.

Most merchant have either no backup solution in place or are using dialup. Very often these solutions remain untested and when needed are not truly available. With the Accelerator™ Network Continuity Service (NCS) you get an online, always available, high speed, redundant network for the cost of a dial line.

How much faster will transactions be processed using Accelerator™
The increase in the speed at which authorizations are received will vary depending on the POS platform being used and the merchant's volume, however Accelerator™ reduces transaction time to an average of three seconds.

What types of equipment and POS platforms will work with Accelerator™?
Any POS platform that supports a serial RS232 port or any ethernet enabled device may be used in conjunction with Accelerator™. Please contact your account representative if you have specific connectivity questions.

Does the merchant need to purchase any special equipment to use Accelerator™?
The Accelerator™ standard installation kit comes with everything that is needed to install Accelerator™ at most locations, cables, the Continuum™ and power pack, and any necessary adapters. Some merchants may need to purchase additional lengths of cable depending on the layout of the location and the placement of the POS terminals or other devices.

Will Accelerator™ require any changes to the merchant's hardware or applications?
Accelerator™ was designed so that changes should not be necessary to either the merchant's equipment or software.

How easy is it to install Accelerator™?
In most cases, merchants can install the Accelerator™ with little or no assistance. Each installation kit comes complete with instructions and drawings explaining how to connect the Continuum™ to the merchant's equipment.

Does it matter what processors are used for the credit card and other POS transactions?
Accel Networks can route transactions into most of the major credit card processors in the U.S., so merchants do not have to change their existing relationships.

What if I decide to change processors?
Because Accel can route transactions into most major credit card processors, a merchant can change processors and still utilize the Accelerator™ solution.

If the merchant has more than one terminal, will transactions be slower?
The advantages of using Accelerator™ and the Continuum™ include the fact that multiple terminals can be operated with no degradation in speed.

Do I have to provide special training to the merchant to use Accelerator™?
No special training, beyond any training required to use the POS platform itself, is required with to use Accelerator™.