Contactless Smart Cards, RFID, Payment, Transit and Security

Edmonton eyes all-in-one smart card system

Monday, July 5, 2010

The city of Edmonton, Canada is considering adopting a smart card system for transit, public libraries, parking, recreational facilities and other municipal services, according to CBC News.

In February, Edmonton’s transportation and public works committee approved a report from city staff on the card for the Edmonton Transit System, which detailed plans for a debit-like smart card that would grant citizens access to multiple city services.


A more detailed proposal is expected to make it to the council for the 2012-14 capital budget discussions in the fall, says CBC News.

Recent figures suggest that the system would cost $23 million to implement, with a $6.9 million net return by 2025.

Read more here[end] 

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.

read more »

The Peninsula Taxi Association (PTA) in South Africa has launched a electronic fare collection system, granting commuters cashless fare and discounts when using the newly developed contactless-enabled transit card, according to The Cape Times.

read more »

MTN Irancell, one of Iran’s mobile operators, has teamed up with Etick Pars Intelligent Technologies and Bank Pasargad to develop a mobile wallet solution for the Iranian Market.

read more »

A new survey from Euro Kartensysteme shows that Germans are starting to embrace the idea of contactless and NFC payments.

Out of 1,040 Germans aged 18-59, 43% responded that they would like to make contactless payments if given the opportunity, of which 58% percent would make their payments with a debit card card, 41% with a credit card and 50% with an NFC phone.

read more »

As some may recall back in June 2010, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York launched tap-and-go contactless payments for commuters to enter select subway stations and participating bus lines using MasterCard PayPass-enabled terminals. Well, the results are in.

read more »

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.

read more »

Subscribe to the Contactless News Library
Gain access to the largest collection of Auto-ID analysis on the Internet.