Curbstone
Curbstone Payment Gateway: Secure, Scalable, and Seamlessly Integrated for IBM Environments
Curbstone is a specialized payment gateway designed to meet the unique needs of businesses operating on IBM i, iSeries, and AS/400 systems. By offering secure, real-time payment processing solutions, Curbstone enables organizations to handle credit card, ACH, and IVR transactions efficiently across various industries.
Key Features of Curbstone
Seamless Integration with IBM i Systems
Curbstone provides native RPG APIs, allowing for direct integration with IBM i, iSeries, and AS/400 platforms. This integration ensures that businesses can process payments without the need for middleware or extensive system overhauls, maintaining existing workflows and reducing implementation time.
Comprehensive Payment Processing
The platform supports a wide range of payment types, including:
- Credit and Debit Cards: Process card-present and card-not-present transactions with ease.
- ACH Payments: Facilitate direct bank transfers for B2B transactions.
- IVR Payments: Allow customers to make payments via interactive voice response systems.
This versatility ensures that businesses can cater to diverse customer preferences and payment methods.
Enhanced Security and PCI Compliance
Curbstone employs advanced security measures, including remote tokenization, to protect sensitive payment data. By removing cardholder data from the merchant’s environment, the platform significantly reduces the scope of PCI compliance requirements, minimizing risk and compliance costs.
Real-Time Authorizations and Automated Settlements
The gateway offers real-time transaction authorizations, ensuring immediate payment confirmations. Additionally, automated daily batch settlements streamline the reconciliation process, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flat-Fee Pricing Model
Curbstone’s transparent, flat-fee pricing structure helps businesses control costs. By avoiding percentage-based fees, organizations can better predict expenses and improve their bottom line.
Industry Applications
Curbstone’s flexible architecture makes it suitable for various industries, including:
- Retail: Facilitate in-store and online transactions with EMV terminals and e-commerce integrations.
- Manufacturing: Integrate payment processing into existing order management systems.
- Publishing: Manage subscriptions and advertiser payments efficiently.
- Utilities: Enable customers to pay bills online or via phone.
- Telecommunications: Handle recurring billing and customer payments seamlessly.
Integration and Support
Curbstone offers comprehensive support for integration and ongoing operations:
- Developer Resources: Access to detailed documentation and APIs for smooth implementation.
- 24/7 Support: U.S.-based customer support is available around the clock to assist with any issues.
- Scalability: The platform is designed to grow with your business, accommodating increasing transaction volumes and expanding payment needs.
Conclusion
Curbstone stands out as a robust payment gateway solution for businesses operating on IBM platforms. Its seamless integration capabilities, comprehensive payment processing features, enhanced security measures, and industry-specific applications make it a valuable asset for organizations seeking to modernize their payment systems without disrupting existing operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Curbstone’s pricing structure?
Curbstone utilizes a volume-based tiered pricing model designed to offer transparency and predictability. The structure consists of an Initial Setup Fee (ISF), an Annual Service Fee (ASF) that covers support, and four transaction volume tiers: Red (up to 6,000 quarterly transactions), Yellow (up to 24,000), Green (up to 60,000), and Blue (unlimited). This model aims to reduce costs by eliminating per-transaction authorization fees and hidden surcharges.
Which ERP systems does Curbstone integrate with?
Curbstone specializes in integrations for the IBM i (AS/400) operating environment. It offers native integrations for major ERPs such as HarrisData, DPS ExtendERP, and Wynne Systems. The platform provides RPG-native APIs and Web Services to facilitate seamless connections with existing business workflows, allowing merchants to process payments directly within their order entry or billing applications without manual data entry.
How does Curbstone handle PCI compliance and security?
Curbstone is a PCI-Validated Level 1 Service Provider that significantly reduces the merchant's PCI scope. By using technologies like Isolated Payment Terminals and remote tokenization, sensitive cardholder data is transmitted directly to the authorization network without being stored or processed on the merchant's local infrastructure. This approach simplifies compliance audits and enhances security by replacing card data with unique tokens for future transactions.
Does Curbstone support recurring billing and card-on-file transactions?
Yes, Curbstone supports recurring billing and subscription models through its "Card on File" functionality. The platform uses remote tokenization to securely store customer payment methods, allowing merchants to process repeat transactions, installment payments, or delayed charges without handling raw card data. This feature is particularly useful for B2B merchants managing regular invoices or service contracts.
Can I accept international payments with Curbstone?
Merchants can accept payments from international customers using major card schemes like Visa and Mastercard. However, the platform primarily supports settlement in North American currencies, specifically USD and CAD, and is optimized for merchants based in the United States and Canada. It offers multi-currency support capabilities to facilitate global transactions while managing risk.
What payment channels does Curbstone support?
The platform offers an omnichannel payment solution covering In-Store (POS), Online (Web), and MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) channels. It includes a Virtual Terminal for back-office processing and supports mobile commerce (In-App). This flexibility allows businesses to manage payments across retail counters, e-commerce sites, and call centers using a single provider.
Is there a developer API available?
Yes, Curbstone offers developer tools including a Web Services API and RPG-native APIs specifically designed for IBM i systems. These tools allow for deep integration into custom applications and shopping carts. While some public documentation indicates restricted "API Accessibility," this refers to the need for a partnership or account setup to access the secure integration environment, rather than a lack of API capabilities.
What types of businesses is Curbstone best suited for?
Curbstone is optimized for B2B, retail, healthcare, government, and manufacturing sectors, particularly those relying on the IBM i platform. It serves a wide range of merchant sizes, from SMBs to large enterprises, with a tiered structure that scales to accommodate businesses processing over $5 billion annually. Its features are tailored for high-volume environments requiring robust ERP integration.