PayPal Website Payments Pro allows transactions to take place on the merchant's e-commerce store for credit card payments using the Direct Payment API feature, or in three clicks for buyers who decide to pay directly from their PayPal accounts using the Express Checkout Feature. In effect, with this system PayPal is not only serving as the payment gateway but the credit card processor as well.

Express Checkout helps buyers with PayPal accounts pay for items in just three clicks on a merchant's website. The buyer initiates and approves PayPal payment earlier in the checkout process, and shipping and billing information is sent immediately from PayPal to the merchant website. For buyers who don't have PayPal accounts, Direct Payment API lets merchants accept credit card transactions just as they would with traditional merchant accounts. The buyers simply enter their credit card details directly on the merchant website. Payments are processed through the PayPal system on the back end, and PayPal remains invisible to the buyers.

Website Payments Pro also includes Virtual Terminal, a new feature that supports phone, fax and mail orders by providing merchants with an online interface to manually enter credit card transactions through the PayPal system.

Simply follow the following steps to accept PayPal Website Payments Pro today!

Step 1: Set Up a Verified PayPal Business Account

Customers who don't have an existing PayPal account, go to PayPal and click the "Sign Up Today" link. Follow the instructions on the PayPal site to set up a Business Account.

Customers who already have a Personal or Premier account, go to PayPal and click the "Sign Up Today" link. Follow the "Upgrade your account" link to upgrade to a Business account. If you haven't already, add a bank account to become a Verified member. Follow the instructions on the PayPal site. This process may take 2-3 business days.

Step 2: Apply for Website Payments Pro

1. Login to your PayPal account and click the "Merchant Services" tab.
2. Click the Website Payments Pro link and follow the instructions to submit your application.
3. Approval takes up to 10 working days.

Step 3: Setup your store to accept Website Payments Pro

1. Log in to your PayPal account and click the Profile tab.
2. Click the API Access link under the Account Information column.
3. Click the Request API Credential link and obtain your API Signature.
4. Login to your store control panel and go to the "Payment Options" page.
5. Enter the API Username, API Password and API Signature in the fields provided.

Step 4: Test Transactions

To run test transactions, change the Transaction Type to "Test". You are required to set up a Sandbox account at PayPal Developer Center for testing. To test Direct Payment, use the credit card numbers below or use an actual card details (no money will be taken in test transactions):

• VISA - Card Number: 4147706547894046, CCV2: 962, Expiry Date: next month 2008
• MasterCard - Card Number: 5105105105105100, CCV2: 567, Expiry Date: next month 200

• About PayPal

  Founded in 1998, PayPal, an eBay company, enables any individual or business with an email address to send and receive payments online securely, easily and quickly. PayPal's service builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards and uses one of the world's most advanced proprietary fraud prevention systems to create a safe, global, real-time payment solution.