A classic type of self-service kiosk is
the automated teller machine (ATM), which allows bank customers
to access funds and make transfers any time of the day or
night. Since ATM kiosks give customers the convenience of
not having to wait in line or handle banking transactions
during regular banking hours, you can see ATM kiosks just
about anywhere—from convenience stores to supermarkets
to office building hallways.
The Global ATM Market
The ATM industry can be divided into seven
major regions comprising the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan.
Demand for ATMs continues to climb in the Asia-Pacific and
Latin American regions, which have the highest growth rate
among the major regions. In comparison, the Near East and
Africa have not yet achieved significant ATM penetration.
Retail Banking Research (RBR) has published the latest edition
of its biennial global ATM survey, called "Global ATM
Market and Forecasts to 2013." The report involves 170
countries, and shows that last year the worldwide ATM market
expanded at an incredible rate.
Over 130,000 ATM units were installed in 2007, which is many
more than the 119,000 number for the year 2000, and experts
expect that there will be over 2.5 million ATM installations
worldwide by the year 2013.
The Importance of Security
ATM security is a big issue for both banks
and account holders, with fraud reported in every region of
the world. To counteract this, ATM manufacturers are using
technology to incorporate additional methods of identity verification,
including CCD cameras, fingerprint authentication, and palm
vein pattern recognition. Surveillance systems have also been
incorporated into most ATM installations, which requires a
system board to provide better performance and the ability
to manage a greater number of peripherals.
