French contactless card company ASK is set to introduce two new products at CARTES and IDentification Nov. 4-6. These include a new range of prelmaninated inlays for contactless smart cards, Corelam, and a universal, multi-standard contactless module, the UCM108. 

Scheidt & Bachmann, a German company involved in car parks, leisure facilities, fare management and gas stations, has partnered with LEGIC Identystems, a Switzerland-based contactless smart card producer, to offer its customers electronic ticketing and access control in the company’s leisure sector business. 

London’s popular Oyster card could be replaced by a phone or bank card by 2010, according to Transport for London which oversees the program. A TfL spokesperson told the London Assembly that the agency is looking at several alternatives and providers when the contract for Transys, the consortium which runs the Oyster system, is terminated.

Earlier this year TfL Nokia and phone network O2, Visa and TranSys piloted a program, later deemed successful, to allow customers to pay for their journeys with their mobile phones. Barclaycard also has a deal with Transys to provide Oyster functionality as part of its OnePulse contactless debit card. That contract too will expire in 2010. Read more here.  

BMW Group Research and NXP Semiconductors have unveiled a prototype of a car key that allows car owners to make contactless payments. Powered by NXP’s SmartMX security chip, people will be able to use the key for transactions such as shopping, public transport, parking, and bridge and road tolls – for the first time – in any BMW vehicle they own or drive. The key also includes personalized access control. 

The HSPD-12 deadline is coming up on Oct. 27. With the deadline fast approaching Regarding ID Editor Zack Martin talked to Karen Evans, administrator for electronic government and information technology with the White House Office of Management and Budget, about the project’s progress and what are the next steps with the credential.

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A one-year pilot program, scheduled to begin next year in Liverpool, will include MasterCard and Royal Bank of Scotland which will enable users to pay for their bus trips on Stagecoach with PayPass, MasterCard’s contactless payment solution.

MasterCard says the trial is the first time a contactless bank card will be used to make payments on public transport in the UK. Unlike London’s Oyster transit system, the card does not need to be topped up because funds are automatically debited from the debit or credit card.

MasterCard says it also has signed up U.S. merchant Faber, Coe & Gregg to begin accepting PayPass transactions at its 80 food and retail stores next year.

Read more here.  

While a UK-based research company is projecting 400 million cell phone subscribers will use their phones for ticketing within the next five years, growth may not come as fast as it could due to a lack of contactless readers and NFC handsets.

The report by Juniper Research found that the leading sector will be transport, followed by entertainment and then sporting events. The Far East and China region is leading the market, driven by adoption in Japan, particularly among rail travelers.