💳 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

Manufacturing Engineering

Production-Ready Design Documentation

The PayThatWay development included comprehensive manufacturing engineering to ensure reliable, scalable production:

Critical Dimensional Analysis

• Precision tolerances down to ±0.016” for critical component interfaces
• Material stress analysis for mobile durability requirements
• Assembly clearances optimized for automated manufacturing
• Quality control specifications for 100% inspection protocols

Injection Molding Optimization

• Gate location studies to minimize visible marks on consumer-facing surfaces
• Fill pattern analysis ensuring complete cavity fill without air traps
• Multi-cavity mold design for efficient high-volume production
• Gate size optimization (0.030” - 0.075”) based on material flow requirements

Internal Component Integration

• PCB board travel constraints ensuring electronics survive drop testing
• Battery fitment studies comparing lithium-polymer configurations
• Thermal management preventing component overheating during charging
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for Bluetooth reliability

Made in USA Manufacturing

All PayThatWay tokens were manufactured in the Treasure Valley region near Boise, Idaho, supporting local suppliers and ensuring quality control throughout the production process.

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.