New York, New Jersey transit pilot iPhone payment system
MTA New York City Transit, New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have collaborated with Visa to create a payment system that uses Visa's PayWave technology and several popular smartphones, including the iPhone. Travelers trying out the service can pay for passage onto the trains by simply waving a properly-equipped iPhone over a special sensor at the turnstiles.
Here's how it works. First, iPhones equipped with PayWave and special sensors (don't ask us how you get one) are activated, which let the users know when it's ready to use. Then, it's held before the sensor and presto! You're in.
Currently, the pilot program is limited to 28 stops along the Lexington line of the New York subway system. Similar testing is being done in London, Paris, Istanbul, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
It's a neat idea. I've certainly lost track of how much credit I've got on a card, and I detest waiting in line at the machine. Of course, this also means an increase of people waving easily dropped (or grabbed) iPhones around.
[Via Electronista]
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MTA New York City Transit, New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have collaborated with Visa to create a...
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BART did just upgrade to this: www.clippercard.com You can still use paper cards, but these work on most Bay Area transit systems making them very convenient. IMO better then a special case for my iphone..
September 23 2010 at 6:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHmmmm thoughts of RFID's and eyescans from Minority Report come to mind.
September 23 2010 at 4:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyVery slick, but I can hear all of the complaints now about security. Hoping BART has this in January for Macworld!!!
September 23 2010 at 3:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOh please. I'm sitting on BART right now looking at my circa-1970s magnetic strip ticket. BART is hurting for cash. The trains AND tracks have been extended beyond EOL status. Ride through the trans-bay tube towards San Francisco and you'll hear just how bad it is. Until California gets its fiscal house in order, BART isn't going to get any newfangled doodad upgrades, least of all to its ticketing system.
September 23 2010 at 4:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFrom NBC
...In the case of the iPhone, Visa outfits the device with a special case that includes the memory card for easy swiping.
Source:http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Pay-for-the-Subway-With-Your-iPhone-103626319.html
In the meantime, in Philadelphia we're still using tokens...
September 23 2010 at 3:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhere in germany, "deutsche bahn" works on a method to pay with special phones via rfid chip on every station (train or subway) in germany. But they are also working on a way to locate your postion with geo-services via iphone app.
While it's a great marketing ploy to get medias to talk about your contactless payment system, I doubt that having to launch an app on your iPhone is faster or more convenient than simply swiping a dedicated autonomous always-ready contactless-equipped-credit-card.
September 23 2010 at 3:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's not an app - it's hardwired technology. (Although I'm sure there's an app, but my guess is that you can set it to always be "on".) I have the same thing in my debit card. I just tap my wallet on the sensor pad. Don't have to take it out, turn anything on, etc.
September 23 2010 at 5:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHad you watched the video, you'd have seen the woman launch an app. I also do have a contact-less card in my wallet and I while I love my iPhone, I would not switch to this setup unless forced as it would require 100x more time to be ready to swipe.
September 23 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt is correctly called the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It's one agency.
September 23 2010 at 3:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyfixed, thanks.
September 23 2010 at 3:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
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