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

Finish theater keeps patrons moving with NFC

Monday, November 26, 2007

NFC PhoneThe Oulu City Theater in northern Finland says it is the world’s first cultural institution to use the hippest handset technology, expected to turn mobile phones into wallets. “It is often said that theater is somehow old-fashioned. I’m hoping this will build the opposite picture,” the head of Oulu City Theater, Ahti Ahonen, told Reuters. Getting theater tickets digitally, downloading video trailers, ordering and even paying for snacks, and after a fun night, call a taxi home—all by just hovering a cellphone over smart tags placed on the menus and around the theater foyer.

The theater is running a pilot, involving technology from Finnish mobile phone-maker Nokia and telecommunications operator TeliaSonera, until the year-end and will extend its usage more widely if it proves successful. [end] 

The Warnow Tunnel in Rostock, Germany is now experiencing smooth traffic flow thanks to an RFID-based toll collection system commission by Schreiner PrinTrust.

The automatic vehicle identification system leverages the Schreiner PrinTrust ((rfid)-Windshield Label, equipped with a specially adapted antenna for application to windshields and other glass substrates.

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The Johnson County Library, Kan. will soon move forward on the installation of RFID equipment and adding tags to all of the books and audiovisual materials at the Corinth Library.

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MasterCard and Commonwealth Bank have announced the launch of a QkR, a new mobile app that enables movie theater goers to browse and purchase refreshments from their seats.

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The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, New York has started using a self-checkout system that makes use of RFID technology, according to a local news report. In the past, if patrons wanted to check out a book or CD, they had to wait for a librarian to do it for them.

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With many national governments and businesses such as airports and hotels moving toward e-passports and biometric identification, CIA agents and other country covert ops may have problems moving around the world under assumed identities, reports Gizmodo.

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The Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute, Ind. has selected 3M RFID and the 3M automated materials handling system to help improve efficiency for library staff and patrons.

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