Contactless Smart Cards, RFID, Payment, Transit and Security

London rail service to trial new smart card ticket

Monday, October 19, 2009

London Midland rail passengers will soon be enjoying a contactless Oyster card-style ticketing system which the rail service intends to roll out next year. London Midland operates train services through the heart of England from London in the south, to Birmingham in the midlands and Liverpool in the northwest. It services about 46 million passengers a year. The agency is expected to trial the new technology in January.

“We have infrastructure ready, such as smart card validators and ticket vending machines, to allow us to carry out trials and roll out the scheme further in 2010 and beyond,” said a London Midland spokesperson. The card will be compliant with the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organization that will allow it to work with other operators.

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The Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council has published a white paper examining how the transit industry can best make use of NFC technology.

“One of the major challenges facing transit agencies today is how to capitalize on the ever-growing popularity of mobile phones with a solid mobile strategy,” said Transportation Council Chairman Craig Roberts. “This white paper builds on the knowledge base developed in earlier white papers to foster a greater understanding of NFC technology, explain its role in the transit industry, and shed light on key issues facing the transit industry in developing a mobile strategy.”

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After nearly ten years and over €55 million, Dublin’s “Leap” transit card has finally hit the market, reports Herald.ie.

The contactless smart card is now available for use on Dublin Buss, Luas, Dart and commuter rail lines around the capital. Rather than having to buy separate tickets or pay with cash, Dublin commuters now can just tap their Leap card against a reader aboard the transport of their choosing.

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The Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) experienced an overwhelmingly large amount of people signing up for the region’s new STAR smart payment card system, according to a local news brief.

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HID Global has announced the successful completion of the world’s first university pilot of NFC smart phones carrying digital keys.

First announced in September, the pilot involved a select group of students and staff at Arizona State University using NFC-enabled smart phones equipped with HID’s Secure Identity Object (SIO) Technology. Participants could gain access to their residence halls and other secure access areas by tapping their handset against a reader embedded in the door and entering a PIN, rather than use their plastic campus card.

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India transport operator Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd. has launched a smart transit card for commuters traveling on the region’s bus system, according to ISO&Agent.

The agency began a six-month trial and August 2010 followed by a soft and silent launch in January 2012. The card is available now for a nonrefundable fee of 25 rupees ($.50 US cents) and allows commuters to travel for up to 100 minutes on one bus, for the minimum fare.

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Superdrug, one of Britain’s largest beauty and health retailers, has introduced contactless payment for its in-store customers, according to Retail Gazette.

Created by Streamline and Visa Europe, the contactless system will enable customers to make payments of up to £15 (approx. USD $23) by simply waving their contactless bank card at the more than 50 participating Superdrug stores in London and Liverpool.

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