Handheld credit card validator for LIRR [Telecom]

"The NY MTA announced that the LIRR has launched a pilot program using hand-held Ticket Issuing Machines that allow customers to purchase tickets on board trains with all major credit and debit cards. LIRR conductors assigned to trains running between Ronkonkoma and Greenport will be carrying an Apple iPhone 4 equipped with a PaySaber cradle device that uses an application designed by the LIRR that enables train crews to make credit card sales and ?debit-as-credit? sales and print out tickets in one easy transaction. The device will be used to process onboard cash sales as well during the pilot program."

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Conductors selling tickets aboard most trains had to punch out a special duplicate ticket. One part was given to the passenger as a receipt and the other part was turned in with the cash collected. Punching was cumbersome and slowed down ticket collection.