For more information about the ATM Comparison Guide 2012, click here.

It's never been more important to purchase the right ATM for the job. Buying the right ATM, one that is equipped to meet the current and future regulatory and business climate, can mean the difference between turning a profit or not, while at the same time providing a high level of customer service.

For instance, ATM operators in the U.S. market face a new round of upgrades with the implementation of the American with Disabilities Act requirements and the pending transition to EMV-compliant ATMs. That's on top of the Triple DES and PCI Security Council requirements with which some in the industry are still struggling.

Depending on the vintage of the machine, upgrades to comply with ADA regulations may be minor. For older machines, it may be more cost-effective to trade them in for new units that meet the regulations for providing audio assistance, keypad pressure and screen display requirements, among other mandates.

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To help make the transition, a number of manufacturers and distributors offer trade-in programs designed to ease the cost of compliance.

With the recent announcement from Visa Inc. regarding implementation of the EMV standard for the U.S. point-of-sale space, it's clear that ATM operators will face compliance challenges there as well. After all, the EMV standard is being applied to ATMs in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Mexico and other nations. The United States is one of the last hold-outs of the mag-stripe-only club, leaving its financial system vulnerable to the criminals driven here from other countries after unsuccessful attempts at duplicating chip-and-PIN cards.

Again, upgrading ATMs to comply with EMV typically requires hardware and software upgrades, and in some cases a new unit ends up being more cost-effective. Although it may seem like these regulatory-driven upgrades only cost the industry money, these challenges actually emphasize the vital role ATMs play in the lives of consumers.

The formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is one indication of the importance placed on the financial services industry. Although the CFPB will play a role in oversight of ATMs, it's unclear what that will mean. It's highly likely swipe fees and security will come under greater scrutiny in the coming years.

In an increasingly mobile society, consumers expect their ATMs to do more for them. For example, consider check deposits at ATMs. After the Check 21 Act made it possible in 2004, intelligent ATM deposit is finally gaining ground following large-scale introductions by JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo. In fact, Chase has featured new ATMs in its advertising campaign — when was the last time that happened?

ATMmarketplace.com produced the ATM Comparison Guide 2012 to provide assistance in making business choices that will be beneficial in the current and future climate of the industry. Detailed specs were gathered from major ATM manufacturers in order to offer guidance for purchasing new ATMs.

Manufacturers included in the guide are Banqit, Diebold, GRG Banking, GenMega, Hantle, Itautec, Nautilus Hyosung, NCR, Triton and Wincor Nixdorf.

Detailed spec categories include: access, cassette configuration, display type, display pixel size, security, security lock type, printer specs, operating specs, dimensions, power requirements, advertising capabilities, contactless card reader, barcode reader, fingerprint reader (biometrics), exterior capabilities, parts warranty, software warranty, cash recycling, anti-skimming protection, EMV, additional sources of revenue, intelligent deposit capabilities, services and software.