Cubic’s Tri-Reader now supports Innovision’s Jewel smart ticketing chip
01 June, 2006
category: Contactless, NFC, Transit
Low-cost contactless mass transit ticketing got a big boost recently from systems integrator Cubic, which is now offering support for Innovision Research and Technology’s contactless Jewel chip designed for use in disposable tickets.
Jewel, the flagship, low-cost, smart ticketing chip developed by Innovision Research & Technology, the leading RFID design services company, is now supported by Tri-Readerr 2, the multi-protocol card interface device used in the newest automated fare collection equipment from the transportation segment of Cubic Corporation.
Walt Bonneau, corporate vice president of technology for Cubic Corporation said: “We are pleased to include the Innovision Jewel device in our list of approved media for our Tri-Reader family of products. We expect limited use smart card ticketing to be a valuable component in achieving the full spectrum of smart card operation in today’s automatic fare collection systems. The targeted functionality and low cost of cards based on the Jewel chip gives our transit customers the option of expanding contactless/proximity ticketing capability to include day passes and other ticket products used in large numbers for occasional passengers, tourists, or specific ticketing events, as well as for passengers that prefer a non-permanent card media or who require a temporary ticket to replace a full-featured smart card that has been lost or forgotten.”
Trevor Crotch-Harvey, of Innovision R&T, said: “The message is loud and clear. Many of the barriers to adoption are being removed and, while there are many contactless ticketing trials now in place, it is up to the transport operators, authorities, systems integrators and vendors to seriously re-evaluate this opportunity and make low-cost smart ticketing for mass transit a reality.”
Innovision designed the Jewel chip specifically to meet the demands of the transit industry to accommodate the modern traveler and transit agency, fulfilling the need for a convenient low cost ticket type suitable for passengers for whom regular contactless smart cards might not be convenient or cost effective.
Many transit operators in urban areas are switching to, or are considering switching to, contactless smart card ticketing systems from traditional magnetic ticketing because they encourage the use of public transportation by allowing commuters to travel quickly, seamlessly, switching between different operators’ bus and rail systems. Contactless technology is the cornerstone of “regionalizing” public transit across a wider metropolitan area.
The low cost Jewel chip makes this technology available to more passengers than the commonly used full feature contactless smart card (CSC) that has a price tag of $4-5 per unit. The addition of the new cost-effective limited use card offers transit operators that currently use magnetic stripe ticketing an incentive to switch to contactless ticketing. Contactless ticketing systems can also reduce overall system maintenance expenses associated with electrical-mechanisms used to read magnetic cards.
About Cubic
Cubic Transportation Systems is the world’s largest provider of integrated electronic ticketing systems and has smart card contracts for public transit systems in North America, Europe and Asia. Every year, nearly 10 billion people use Cubic systems in more than 40 major markets in cities on five continents, including London, Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, Chicago, New York, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Atlanta, San Francisco, Singapore and Miami. For more information about Cubic, see the company’ web site at www.cubic.com.
About Innovision Research & Technology
Innovision Research & Technology is one of Europe’s leading Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) IC Design and solutions providers. Focusing on RFID and ultra low-cost Integrated Circuit (IC) and electronic design, the company develops innovative technologies and technology applications for commercialisation and then licenses the technology on to its customers who incorporate it into their own products. Innovision R&T is also at the heart of the emerging Near Field Communication (NFC) market, designing and developing solutions for the mobile handset and consumer device sectors. For further information, visit: www.innovision-group.com/jewel.
Near Field Communications News and InsightExplore more developments dealing with the implementation of Near Field Communications, a short-range wireless technology that promises to revolutionize contactless identification, payment, access, and more. Click to visit NFCNews.
