FOOD FAIR TO HOOK UP WIRELESS CREDIT CHECKS

DENISE ZIMMERMAN

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Food Fair Supermarket chain will chart new waters this month when it puts wireless credit card authorization systems on line at all 11 stores here.

Richard Messick, president of Food Fair, characterized the system as "the closest you can get to a satellite hookup" without the prohibitive price tag. Food Fair is believed to be one of the first supermarkets testing the system.

Processing speed -- about five seconds compared with 30 seconds with a conventional telephone dial-up method -- is driving the move, Messick said.

The wireless system, which costs about $6,700 to outfit a seven-lane store, consists of a credit card processing terminal, printer and modem at specified checkouts. The setup eliminates the cost of installing and maintaining telephone lines because radio wave technology is used.

The credit card authorization service, in place at three of the Louisville-Clemens store's seven checkout lanes since mid-March, does not currently accommodate debit card transactions. But that feature should be operational by the middle of May, Messick said.

The system is marketed by RAM Mobile Data, New York, and credit card authorization is conducted by MasterCard Automated Point-of-Sale Program.