NXP Semiconductors announced that its MIFARE Plus contactless microcontroller has been chosen by the Russian city of Sochi to power the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system of its ground transportation network during the 2014 Winter Olympics. NXP is working with several partners to complete the system, including solution provider and equipment manufacturer Strikh-M, inlay manufacturer […]

Silicon Valley-based Cimbal has announced the public launch of its software-based NFC payment network. The network, which the company claims is the first of its kind in the world, enables secure payment and peer-to-peer transactions using a smart phone instead of a plastic card. For transactions, a Cimbal user creates a payment request on his […]

The city of Cardiff, Wales is launching City Car Club’s contactless smart card-based car rental program. In the £120,000 project, members will be issued smart cards to unlock ten low-emission vehicles located in the city center. Once inside the car, the member can retrieve the keys from a storage box using a special pin number […]

HID Global and UPM Raflatac announced a worldwide technology license agreement that enables UPM Raflatac to incorporate HID Global’s tamper-proof and secure RFID sealing label technology and IP into their contactless product family. The deal makes UPM Raflatac is the first company to offer HID’s secure RFID sealing solution worldwide, according to HID. In the […]

Netsize has released a new report finding that a majority of survey respondents would use their mobiles to buy big-ticket items. “Unlocking the Value of Mobile Commerce” includes research on the value amounts that people are ready for and willing to pay through their mobile phone for pricey items that go beyond the usual mix […]

Dublin-based AIB Merchant Services (AIBMS) has announced the launch of its new customizable loyalty program for small to medium-sized businesses, according to siliconrepublic.com. The new solution, AIBMS loyaltyplus, uses contactless tags from ZapaTechnology that combine multiple loyalty cards onto one single device accepted at AIBMS point of sale terminals. Loyaltyplus also allows retailers to send […]

Dublin will see a new integrated smart card ticketing system by early next year, according to The Irish Times. The the €55 million project will start with a smart card rollout for the Luas and Dublin Bus services, to be joined later by Irish Rail, private bus operators and Bus Éireann. Annual ticket holders will […]

China’s GYRFID has announced the release of its new ISO14443A Mifare 1K/ Mifare 4K/ Mifare Ultralight multi-function contactless card. The 13.56Mhz, 512bit contactless card is suitable for public transportation, payment systems, logistics, e-ticketing and more, according to GYRFID, and measures 86mm by 54mm, with a thickness of 0.84mm.   

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan shows that current smart card-based transit projects in growing European and world cities will lead to an 11% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in smart card shipment from 2009 to 2015. Europe and megacities are hot spots for future smart card-based transit projects, says the consultancy. “Technology and social […]

The Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council is holding a meeting on open standards payment for public transportation in New York City on September 22 – 23. Hosted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/New York City Transit, the meeting will include updates on active and planned open standards transit payments projects from leading U.S. and international transit […]