💳 PayThatWay - Universal Bluetooth® Mobile Payment System _

“Accept Credit Cards Anywhere” - that was the vision that drove PayThatWay, the revolutionary mobile payment system I developed from 2009-2011. Years before Square reached mainstream adoption, PayThatWay solved the fundamental compatibility problem that plagued early mobile payments.

The Vision: Universal Compatibility

While competitors like Square targeted only specific smartphone models (reaching just 6% market penetration), PayThatWay took a different approach: work with the phones people already have. The system supported 75% of all mobile phones - 219 million devices across thousands of Bluetooth-enabled models.

No apps. No data plan. No contracts. Just universal mobile payments.

Technical Innovation

Hardware Specifications

• Keychain-sized Bluetooth credit card reader (shown actual size in product photos)
• Lithium-polymer battery - 150 transactions per charge, 1-hour recharge time
• Magnetic stripe reader with signature-side-down swiping
• LED status indicators: Green (active), Blue (pairing/transmitting), Red (re-swipe)
• Push-button activation with tactile feedback
• Custom PCB design optimized for mobile use
• Tamper-resistant enclosure manufactured in USA

Revolutionary Process

PayThatWay eliminated the complexity of mobile payments with a simple 5-step process:

1. Press button to activate - Token lights up green
2. Swipe card signature-side down - Red light means re-swipe needed
3. Automatic Bluetooth connection - Token flashes blue while connecting
4. Phone auto-dials PayThatWay - No apps or manual dialing required
5. Voice prompts complete transaction - Amount, tip, zip code, phone number
6. “Ka-ching” sound confirms success - Optional SMS receipt

Universal Compatibility Architecture

• Works with ANY Bluetooth phone - No smartphone requirement
• No data plan necessary - Uses voice calls only
• No apps to download - Uses built-in phone dialer
• 30-second one-time setup - Simple Bluetooth pairing
• Compatible with all carriers - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, regional carriers

Bank-Level Security

PayThatWay implemented military-grade security features that exceeded industry standards:

Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE)

• Credit card data encrypted from swipe to processor - Never exposed in plaintext
• No sensitive data stored on token or phone
• PA-DSS compliant processing - Meets all applicable security standards
• PCI certified processing facilities with advanced protection

Secure Infrastructure

• Biometric access control at processing centers
• 24×7×365 on-site personnel monitoring
• CCTV surveillance and hardened network infrastructure
• Military-grade encryption regardless of phone model
• Card-present transaction rates - Qualify for lowest processing fees

Target Markets & Applications

PayThatWay was designed for any mobile business that needed to accept credit cards on-the-go:

Primary Markets

• Network Marketing - Scentsy, Melaleuca, Mary Kay, direct sales representatives
• Food Service - Pay at table, pizza delivery, mobile catering, food trucks
• Transportation - Taxis, limousines, charter buses, charter boats
• On-Site Services - Pest control, landscaping, carpet cleaning, roadside assistance
• Events & Markets - Flea markets, trade shows, craft fairs, farmers markets
• Professional Services - Mobile consultants, repair services, contractors

Business Model & Pricing

• Equipment Cost: $100-250 per token
• Sign-up Fee: $250 one-time
• Monthly Service: $10/month
• Transaction Fee: $0.10 per transaction
• Additional Cashiers: $100 each
• Custom Branding: Available at additional cost

Custom Token Gallery

One of PayThatWay’s unique features was complete customization. The system supported:

Branding Options

• Corporate Logos - PayThatWay globe logo, Supported Systems branding
• University/Sports Teams - Boise State Broncos (blue/orange)
• Patriotic Themes - USA flag designs with red, white, blue
• Personal Symbols - Butterflies, dollar signs, yin-yang symbols
• Available Colors - Black, blue, purple, green, red, white, clear/transparent

Manufacturing Excellence

• Made in USA - Manufactured in Treasure Valley near Boise, Idaho
• Local Suppliers - Preference for regional manufacturing partners
• Quality Control - First production tokens September 2010
• Custom Graphics - 1.5” diameter lens customization

Patent & Intellectual Property

USPTO Patent Application #20110215141

• Provisional Patent: #61/285,980 (filed December 12, 2009)
• Full Application: Filed December 12, 2010
• Published: September 8, 2011
• Innovation: Universal mobile payment system hardware and methodology

Market Opportunity (2011)

The timing was perfect for mobile payment disruption:

Market Size

• US Mobile Payments: $162B (2010) → $984B projected (2014)
• Target Addressable Market: 219M compatible Bluetooth phones
• Competition: Square limited to 13.1M handsets (6% market penetration)
• PayThatWay Advantage: 75% market compatibility from day one

Development Timeline & Milestones

2009: Patent Foundation

• December 12: Provisional Patent #61/285,980 filed
• Initial concept development and feasibility analysis

2010: Beta Development

• Summer: Beta testing began with select merchants
• September: Validation completed on all major carriers
• September: Integration with all bank card processing platforms completed
• September: First production tokens manufactured
• December 12: Full USPTO Patent Application #20110215141 filed

2011: Launch & Operations

• Q1: Product validation and final testing completed
• September 8: Patent application published
• October 10: Official product launch and press release
• 24/7 Support: Customer service system operational
• Affiliate Program: $50 referral program launched

Company & Team

PayThatWay Enterprises Ltd.

• Headquarters: 3919 E. Overland Rd, Meridian, ID 83642
• Phone: (888) 729-7170 / 888-PAY-7170
• Support: 24/7 customer support available
• Manufacturing: Made in USA, Treasure Valley/Boise area

Leadership Team

• Ryan Malloy - Founder & Lead Developer
• Advisory Board: D. Mickelson, D. Durlin

Legacy & Industry Impact

PayThatWay was years ahead of its time, solving fundamental mobile payment problems that the industry is still working on today:

Innovations That Became Industry Standard

• Universal device compatibility (now standard with NFC)
• Hardware-based security (Apple Pay Secure Element, EMV chips)
• No-app payment processing (tap-to-pay, contactless)
• Point-to-point encryption (now P2PE standard)
• Card-present rate qualification for mobile transactions

Technical Predictions Realized

• Hardware security modules (HSMs) for payment processing
• Contactless payment adoption
• Mobile payment tokenization standards
• Bluetooth-based payment systems

Project Artifacts & Resources

This comprehensive project showcase includes:

• Original product demonstration videos from 2011 launch
• Complete patent documentation and USPTO filings
• Marketing materials and investor presentations
• Product photography including custom token designs
• Technical documentation and user guides
• Press releases and media coverage
• 3D product renders and lifestyle photography

PayThatWay represents the intersection of hardware engineering, embedded systems, cryptographic security, and business innovation - solving real problems with elegant technical solutions.

Experience the original demo video and explore the complete artifact collection below.