Tag: nfc technology

At the moment, this tech is still in its pilot phase but the hope is to be able to roll it out in the future.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA), in partnership with EZ-Link and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) have recently brought a trial using NFC technology transit fare to a close and are moving on with a pilot project.

This will allow transit riders to be able to use their smartphones to pay to get from point A to point B.

Compatible mobile devices with NFC technology embedded will be able to use the contactless payment readers on the MRT, LRT and public buses. This type of fare will also be available at any of the over 30,000 EZ-Link acceptance points such as at food and beverage and retail outlets in addition to many taxis. The use of an NFC SIM makes it possible to transform a cell phone into a kind of mobile device-based EZ-Link card. That allows them to use the smartphone in the same way that riders previously used their plastic cards.

The NFC technology based option also allows for additional features regarding their transit use.

For instance, through the associated app, transit riders can also check their EZ-Link balance, view their transaction history and refill the amount they have in their account for paying their fares.

According to Chew Men Leong, LTA chief exec, “This is a milestone in the use of NFC technology in public transit in Singapore,” adding that, “We have been testing various innovative fare payment systems, and bringing these NFC SIMs and mobile phone models into the public transit ticketing environment to bring greater convenience to commuters through new and convenient ways to pay for travel.”

The trial for the use of this mobile ticketing service initially came to a close in February. That testing involved the use of the service by more than 1,000 users through 15 different NFC enabled mobile devices fitted with the near field communication SIM. All told, they registered more than 30,000 transactions with these devices and the app and a pilot is now starting in order to begin the roll out in the future.

New report shows that spending in the IT sector has changed due to the rise of mobile payments

The growing adoption of smartphones and tablets has powered the evolution of commerce. More consumers than ever before are now involved in mobile commerce, the process through which smartphones and tablets are used to shop for and purchase products, both online and in physical stores. A new report from Technavio shows that the growth of mobile commerce has changed spending habits in the global information technology (IT) market. More organizations in this market are focusing their investments on new technologies that can make mobile payments more convenient.

Report shows that companies are investing more in mobile technology

According to the report, the growth of the mobile commerce market has spurred companies to invest more heavily in mobile technology, such as NFC and Bluetooth. More companies are investing in new IT solutions to enhance their technological capabilities and allow them to engage mobile consumers more effectively. These IT solutions may help companies keep pace with the rapidly evolving mobile space, where consumers are often considered quite fickle and difficult to connect with.

Better data may help companies connect with their mobile customers more effectively

Companies interested in mobile commerce have begun to collaborate with companies like IBM and Oracle in order to better understand the needs of mobile consumers. These organizations are providing valuable analytical data that can help companies form better mobile services in the future. These companies are also beginning to invest more heavily in data security, which has been something that mobile consumers have been concerned with for several years.

Banks will be investing more aggressively in mobile commerce in the coming years

Technavio predicts that a substantial portion of the spending on mobile commerce solutions will come from the banking sector. Banks have been investing in digital solutions for years, hoping to provide mobile customers with the services that they need. With rising demand for mobile commerce support, many banks are beginning to feel pressure to adapt to a world that is becoming more mobile-centric.