VeriFone Systems Inc. announced today the VX 690, its first handheld EMV-capable payment terminal featuring Bluetooth, 3G radio and Wi-Fi connectivity.

VeriFone said in a press release the terminal's size, design and multiple connection capabilities meets merchants' mobile point of sale demands particularly in regions such as North America, Australia and parts of Asia where 3G connectivity is increasingly required for payment device acceptance.

"It is no secret that merchants increasingly want a user experience that parallels that of a consumer electronics device," Bill Nelson, executive vice president of global product management for VeriFone, said in a press release. "The VX 690 achieves this goal while providing 3G connectivity that is critical in many markets where 2G networks are transitioning to 3G. The user experience of the terminal combined with its robustness, flexibility and technical communication capabilities will not only enable payments today — it will enable commerce tomorrow."

VeriFone claimed in the press release that the VX 690's Bluetooth, 3G radio and Wi-Fi combination provides fast, wireless payment convenience as well as fewer dropped transactions in virtually every type of merchant environment. Dual SIM functionality enables the terminal to quickly connect to different networks to keep transactions moving, while built-in GPS allows merchants to track the location of every transaction, providing greater visibility into operations and inventory across multiple stores.

The terminal is PCI PTS 3.0 compliant and features built-in security protection that includes end-to-end encryption to protect data at every point of the transaction, VeriFone said in its statement. The VX 690's built-in functionality includes:

• 3.5-inch capacitive touch display that allows merchants to enable commerce with marketing messages via video streaming and audio capabilities;
• Single micro-USB connector for added convenience and functionality;
• EMV capability for supporting PIN, Signature and No-Cardholder verification methods;
• NFC capability to support contactless and mobile wallet transactions;
• Bluetooth Low Energy support; and
• Peripheral capability for potential future expansion, including biometric scanner/barcode reader.

VeriFone expects The VX 690 to be available in late 2014.