IBM 3624
Encyclopedia
A successor to the IBM 3614, the IBM
3624 was a late 1970s second-generation Automatic teller machine that was designed at the IBM Los Gatos lab. IBM 3624 units, along with the later IBM 4732, were manufactured at IBM facilities in Charlotte
, North Carolina
and Havant
, England
until all operations were sold to Diebold
, tied to the formation of the InterBold partnership between IBM and Diebold.
Comparable units marketed by other companies at the time were the Diebold
TABS 9000 and NCR
50xx series.
The 3624 was marketed in 8 different versions. The 3624 Version 8 incorporated use of a 6-row by 40-column dot-matrix customer display, 4 line by 34 character statement / journal printer, labeled function / account keys, 1 to 2 currency cartridges and an optional depository. Earlier models (such as the Version 2) featured a smaller 2-line display.
Unusual by today's standards, the customer's ATM card
was inserted with the magnetic stripe up. Modern ATMs typically are built to expect customers to insert their card with the magnetic strip facing down (with the added benefit of the card issuer's logo being displayed to the customer on insert), although this can be changed to the opposite orientation.
The transaction records printed by the 3624 and used by customers to verify their transactions were approximately 3 inches square and on similar card stock to punch cards. When performing deposits, customers were instructed to place a special transaction record inside of the deposit envelope to aid in the processing of the transaction by the back office staff.
One of the most unfortunate design characteristics of the 3624 was that the vault
that contained the cash dispenser was located in the upper area of the unit. Being a top-heavy unit, the 3624 was an extremely awkward machine to transport up and down stairs.
A complaint against the 3624 was the relatively small size of the cash cartridges (used to give money to customers) in comparison to other vendors' equipment.
As was typical for ATM hardware of this era, the IBM 3624 had a two distinct high-level communications protocols, The first, a direct mainframe attachment through SDLC links was an IBM SNA LU0 protocol. The second was an attachment to the IBM 4600 series of Banking equipment, and was a start stop TDM loop with time slots assigned to specific 36xx series equipment at 1200 bps.
The IBM 3612, 3624 and 3600 communications protocols were incompatible with other ATM vendor's high-level communications protocol.
The 3624 was eventually replaced by the IBM 473x series of ATMs. Part of the reason for the failure of the IBM 473x to take hold in the ATM marketplace was due to the lack of a backwards compatibility to the 3624 protocol when it was initially introduced.
One of the most lasting features introduced with the 3624 was the IBM 3624 PIN block format used in transmission of an encrypted personal identification number
(PIN). The PIN functions, with an early commercial encryption using the DES algorithm, were implemented in two modules BQKPERS and BQKCIPH, and their export controlled under the US export munitions rules.
These modules were illegally transported to South Africa in May 1976, where customers were early adopters of the troubled 3600 Financial Communications System, on punched cards by a non-US IBM employee, in violation of the US laws restricting the export of encryption technology.
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
3624 was a late 1970s second-generation Automatic teller machine that was designed at the IBM Los Gatos lab. IBM 3624 units, along with the later IBM 4732, were manufactured at IBM facilities in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
until all operations were sold to Diebold
Diebold
Diebold, Inc. is a United States-based security systems corporation that is engaged primarily in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems , electronic and physical security products , and software and integrated systems for global financial and...
, tied to the formation of the InterBold partnership between IBM and Diebold.
Comparable units marketed by other companies at the time were the Diebold
Diebold
Diebold, Inc. is a United States-based security systems corporation that is engaged primarily in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems , electronic and physical security products , and software and integrated systems for global financial and...
TABS 9000 and NCR
NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation is an American technology company specializing in kiosk products for the retail, financial, travel, healthcare, food service, entertainment, gaming and public sector industries. Its main products are self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check...
50xx series.
The 3624 was marketed in 8 different versions. The 3624 Version 8 incorporated use of a 6-row by 40-column dot-matrix customer display, 4 line by 34 character statement / journal printer, labeled function / account keys, 1 to 2 currency cartridges and an optional depository. Earlier models (such as the Version 2) featured a smaller 2-line display.
Unusual by today's standards, the customer's ATM card
ATM card
An ATM card is a card issued by a bank, credit union or building society that can be used at an ATM for deposits, withdrawals, account information, and other types of transactions, often through interbank networks.Some ATM cards can also be used:* at a branch, as identification for in-person...
was inserted with the magnetic stripe up. Modern ATMs typically are built to expect customers to insert their card with the magnetic strip facing down (with the added benefit of the card issuer's logo being displayed to the customer on insert), although this can be changed to the opposite orientation.
The transaction records printed by the 3624 and used by customers to verify their transactions were approximately 3 inches square and on similar card stock to punch cards. When performing deposits, customers were instructed to place a special transaction record inside of the deposit envelope to aid in the processing of the transaction by the back office staff.
One of the most unfortunate design characteristics of the 3624 was that the vault
Bank vault
A bank vault is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents can be stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, just like a safe...
that contained the cash dispenser was located in the upper area of the unit. Being a top-heavy unit, the 3624 was an extremely awkward machine to transport up and down stairs.
A complaint against the 3624 was the relatively small size of the cash cartridges (used to give money to customers) in comparison to other vendors' equipment.
As was typical for ATM hardware of this era, the IBM 3624 had a two distinct high-level communications protocols, The first, a direct mainframe attachment through SDLC links was an IBM SNA LU0 protocol. The second was an attachment to the IBM 4600 series of Banking equipment, and was a start stop TDM loop with time slots assigned to specific 36xx series equipment at 1200 bps.
The IBM 3612, 3624 and 3600 communications protocols were incompatible with other ATM vendor's high-level communications protocol.
The 3624 was eventually replaced by the IBM 473x series of ATMs. Part of the reason for the failure of the IBM 473x to take hold in the ATM marketplace was due to the lack of a backwards compatibility to the 3624 protocol when it was initially introduced.
One of the most lasting features introduced with the 3624 was the IBM 3624 PIN block format used in transmission of an encrypted personal identification number
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
(PIN). The PIN functions, with an early commercial encryption using the DES algorithm, were implemented in two modules BQKPERS and BQKCIPH, and their export controlled under the US export munitions rules.
These modules were illegally transported to South Africa in May 1976, where customers were early adopters of the troubled 3600 Financial Communications System, on punched cards by a non-US IBM employee, in violation of the US laws restricting the export of encryption technology.
External links
- http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/images/ATM_Machine.jpg IBM: Picture of an IBM 3614 (from http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/decade_1970.html)
- http://www.rbc.com/history/anytimeanywhere/images/photos/self_serve2.gif Royal Bank of Canada: Picture of an IBM 3624 (from http://www.rbc.com/history/anytimeanywhere/self_service-detail.html#2) http://www-5.ibm.com/de/entwicklung/history/grafik/1980_1.jpg IBM: Picture of an IBM 4731 (from http://www-5.ibm.com/de/entwicklung/history/menues/menue_80.html) http://www.wingenback.com/1981.htm Wingenback Ltd. : Picture of an IBM 3624 being delivered
- http://currency_den.tripod.com/testnotes/ibm-ctf5.jpg A picture of some IBM test money with a 3624 cash cartridge printed on it (from http://currency_den.tripod.com/)
- http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tpfhelp/current/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.ztpf-ztpfdf.doc_put.cur/gtps2/i3624.html IBM: A brief mention of the 3624 protocol
- http://www.fi.muni.cz/~xkrhovj/lectures/2004_MKB_ANSI_slides.pdf PDF of methods to attack the 3624 PIN Block
