Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

Australian commuters transition to smart card system

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Australian commuters will soon transition from 10-trip fare saver tickets to smart cards for bus and ferry travel. The smart card system - where users will swipe a reader when they get both on and off - will allow commuters to store credit and top up when necessary, much like a pre-paid mobile phone. The smart card system is not as attractive to some commuters even though some discounted fares will still be available because overall fares will increase and they will carry expiration dates unlike the current system. Private bus operators have already begun phasing out the 10-trip savers in anticipation of the smart cards being introduced at the end of the year.

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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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The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the state run bus service in Maharashtra, India, has adopted a smart card ticketing system to replace its existing paper passes for transit buses.

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The Paris Metro’s 2013 Navigo transit card may come with a new feature that enables users to top up their card accounts via mobile phone, according to the Verge.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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