Contactless Smart Cards, RFID, Payment, Transit and Security

WMATA offers new senior SmarTrip card

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Washington Metropolitan Tranist Authority is making it easier for senior citizens 65 and older to get their discount when riding Metrobus and Metrorail with the new senior SmarTrip cards that will be available July 1.

The new senior SmarTrip card is bright yellow, which makes it easy to identify as a reduced fare SmarTrip card. Reduced fare is automatically deducted from the card. To get the senior SmarTrip card, senior citizens must show proof of age such as a valid driver license, government-issued photo ID or passport with date of birth.

Senior SmarTrip cards will be available for purchase at all Metro sales outlets, regional commuter stores and public libraries in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Once customers purchase a senior SmarTrip card for $5, they can add value to the card at any Metrorail station and on any Metrobus. [end] 

After a nearly three-year delay, the Algerian government has finally launched its biometric passport program.

Magharebia reports that the biometric passports, which contain a contactless smart card chip that holds a digitized photo, fingerprints and signature, were supposed to be released in 2009. But the documents were delayed due to complexities with the operation of the project and the need to thoroughly research and analyze other countries’ experiences with biometric passports.

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The U.S. government has settled an infringement case with Leighton Technologies by agreeing to license its smart cards.

Leighton Technologies, a subsidiary of General Patent, filed a case against the federal government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in January 2010. Leighton alleged that 54 federal agencies used its six smart card patents without authorization. Leighton’s technology was also used in e-passports.

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As part of the U.S. Department of State’s initiative to simplify and streamline customer service interactions and processes, the Office of Passport Services has started a 90-day pilot program for online passport card applications.

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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has begun accepting proposals from tech firms to replace its SmarTrip fare system, according to tbd.com.

The Metro, which provides rapid transit services to Washington D.C. and its suburbs, is looking for an open fare system that uses “contactless, chip-enabled debit and credit cards, federal ID cards, or smart phones equipped with NFC capability, as well as existing SmarTrip cards,” reports tbd.com.

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In an effort to streamline passenger security, Jakarta, Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport has opened the country’s first biometric immigration gate.

Fingerprint biometric identification provider BIO-key International, Inc. and Oakwell Engineering Limited partnered to create the new gate, designed for use by passengers with electronic passports. Passengers submit their e-passports and authenticate with a fingerprint.

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Marc Kekicheff, Visa’s senior business leader of chip innovation, has been re-elected chairman of GlobalPlatform, the group that standardizes the management of secure chip technology. Uwe Wittig, group vice president, payment division for Giesecke & Devrient, will remain the organization’s vice chair. In addition, Yves Moulart, director of development and innovation for STMicroelectronics, will remain secretary/treasurer.

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