Big Top Gets Unplugged

High-wire acts may be a circus staple, but some wires are missing from another part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus-the concession stands. The circus uses payment-processing technology from Lynk and U.S. Wireless Data to allow wireless credit-card processing in all 90 North American cities that it visits each year. Employees use Lipman handhelds to transmit credit-card information on Motient's wireless network.

Previously, Ringling Bros. couldn't readily accept credit cards at concessions where telephone lines weren't accessible.