Patent Awarded For Real Time Electronic PIN Delivery System By U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The patent (No.: US 6,651,885), which was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in June 2000, covers not only the PIN delivery for prepaid products, but also includes the areas of top-up, loyalty, gift card and point of sale activations, as well as real time reporting and the thermal card printing process - a true, one stop prepaid solution. The truly innovative multi-function transaction processing system successfully integrates payment processing and prepaid products and services. Using a POS terminal or touch-screen, menu-driven system, merchants can print or activate prepaid cards (calling cards, gift cards, Internet service, wireless recharge cards, etc.) Electronic PINs are delivered via an integrated thermal card printer, accept checks, smart cards and ATM/debit/EBT (electronic benefit transfers) cards, process Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card & Diner?s Club transactions and view real-time reports. A pioneer of the prepaid telecommunications industry, Blackstone is currently one of the countrys largest providers of prepaid products and services through over 300,000 retail locations nationwide.