Contactless Smart Cards, RFID, Payment, Transit and Security

Dublin delays smart transit cards to 2011

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Dubliners will have to wait until the end of next year before smart cards are available for use on buses, the Luas and trains, according to The Irish Independent.

Transit authorities first promised the city smart cards nearly a decade before, and cumulative cost of delays has reached a staggering €55 million.


The integrated ticketing board has begun the first phase of computer testing in preparation for a pilot scheme scheduled for later on in the year.

Still, commuters will have to wait until 2011 before all companies, including Iarnrod Eireann commuter trains and DARTs, Dublin Bus, Luas and private operators, come together under the system.

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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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India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest growing smart card markets, according to a new research report by RNCOS. With more than one billion in population and increasing modern application areas, India is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% during 2011-2014.

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Cubic Transportation Systems, distributor of the electronic transit Clipper card, has responded to the recent news of a Ph.D. student in IT Security allegedly breaking the encryption in Clipper and similar transit cards.

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UK-regional bus group Bluestar has launched a new transit card for discounted weekly and monthly travel on its network, according to Southern Daily Echo.

The new card enables cashless fare for any service on the Bluestar Network in Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester. It also supports travel on Wilts & Dorset buses and Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight, both of which are owned and operated by Go-Ahead Group.

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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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UK mobile operator O2 is delaying the launch of its “O2 Wallet” mobile contactless payments, loyalty and transit app due to concerns that it is “not yet offering an adequate customer experience,” reports MarketingWeek.

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