GlobalPlatform Behind Beijing Transit Card Contactless Payment Solution

Blue Bamboo contactless POS terminals utilize GlobalPlatform’s secure, multi-application platform

6 November 2007 – GlobalPlatform has announced that its core device specification – also known as the GPD/STIP Specification – has been deployed in China through the Blue Bamboo H50 Terminal in the recent launch of the Beijing transit card contactless micro-payments scheme.

Blue Bamboo uses the GPD/STIP Specification as the software platform for its H50 GPRS terminals, which have been deployed in merchant retail locations throughout Beijing. Fifteen million transit cards issued by Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card Co. Ltd. have now been accepted for ‘tap-and-go’ retail purchases since June 2007. It is estimated that 2,000 of Blue Bamboo’s terminals will be deployed by the end of the year with additional roll-out planned in 2008.

Jason Jones, CEO of Blue Bamboo, outlined the benefits GlobalPlatform brings to the deployment: “The GPD/STIP Specification provides a highly secure environment for security conscious applications to reside side-by-side with other applications on a device. Since the Beijing transit card currently combines payment, transit, contactless and top-up applications, the H50 terminal, which is a GPD/STIP platform device, was the obvious choice. The flexibility offered by a GlobalPlatform device environment enables further functionality, such as gift and loyalty applications to be added in the future. As this increases return on investment without compromising the existing infrastructure, this brings great value to both systems integrators and issuers.”

Bob Beer, Chairman of GlobalPlatform and Vice President of Business Development at Datacard Group, adds: “As a long-standing and active member of GlobalPlatform, Blue Bamboo has always been committed to supporting open and interoperable specifications for the smart card infrastructure. Its usage of the GPD/STIP Specification in the Beijing transit card micro-payment program is a significant announcement for GlobalPlatform, as this is the first time GlobalPlatform device technology has been used in a deployment which combines contactless, payment and transit applications. It offers a clear demonstration of the advantages GlobalPlatform technology can bring to secure, multi-application and contactless deployments, regardless of industry or geographical market.”

In August 2007, Blue Bamboo announced that it had teamed up with KPay to integrate contactless IC technology into the Blue Bamboo H50 GPRS terminal, in order to provide retail payment services for the Beijing transit card.

About Blue Bamboo

Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Blue Bamboo designs and markets feature-rich and exceptionally affordable products for the POS terminal and peripherals industry. Blue Bamboo’s robust electronic payment technology delivers scalable, customer-centric wireless and retail payment solutions which meet PCI and EMV standards all in a secure, reliable and versatile design. Visit www.bluebamboo.com for more information.

About GlobalPlatform

GlobalPlatform is the global leader in smart card infrastructure development and its proven, technical specifications for cards, devices and systems are known as the standard for smart card infrastructure. GlobalPlatform is a member driven association with cross-industry representation from all world continents. For more information about GlobalPlatform, visit: www.globalplatform.org.