The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is set to initiate a pilot program for the HCE ticketing solution recently launched by Rambus Ecebs. The HCE mobile ticketing suite, which securely loads virtual smart cards onto smartphones, will be rolled out during 2017 by Nevis Technologies, a joint venture company formed between SPT and Rambus Ecebs.
It should be noted that Rambus Ecebs mobile ticketing solution can be implemented using existing ITSO-based smart infrastructure, enabling transport operators to conveniently and securely transition from physical to virtual smart cards.
According to David Braddock, director of Nevis Technologies, Rambus Ecebs will provide SPT with its HCE Ticket Wallet Service and a configurable HCE Ticketing App. The former securely provisions and manages a virtual smart card to store tickets on the phone, while the latter provides passengers with an intuitive interface to purchase, fulfill and manage tickets. The Ticket App also allows transport operators to collect valuable traveler data and analytics to optimize ticket offers, pricing, staffing and routes.
“This program brings more convenient, smart ticketing to travelers,” said Braddock. “Our mission is to deliver more value-added services and solutions to the transport system and its consumers and we are excited to launch this new pilot program.”
Eric Stewart, assistant chief executive, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, expressed similar sentiments.
“This pilot program with Rambus Ecebs and the Nevis team helps us build on our value proposition to make travel more convenient, secure and efficient for our transport systems,” stated Stewart. “The new solution leverages HCE technology, a proven technology in mobile payments, to deliver secure mobile ticketing to NFC-enabled smart phones across all mobile networks. Travelers can securely select, purchase, download and use their ticket anywhere on the SPT Subway.”
As we’ve previously discussed on Rambus Press, host card emulation (HCE) for mobile ticketing is a software architecture that emulates a traditional tamper-resistant smart card on NFC smartphones. Put simply, HCE enables smartphones to act as a virtual representation of a contactless, transport smart card. This allows passengers to securely use their phone as a travel smart card and virtual ticket wallet. HCE also helps maximize the potential of smartphones as a viable and attractive alternative to issuing plastic smart cards, thus resulting in significant cost savings for transport operators and greater convenience for travelers.
According to Russell McCullagh, Managing Director, Rambus Ecebs, HCE provides operators with the opportunity to attract and acquire those people not using public transport in a ‘right here, right now’ use case by utilizing existing transport infrastructure and current mobile technology.
“HCE enables operators to offer digital travel wallets to passengers without the lead production time associated with plastic cards,” he explained. “Once an HCE mobile transport app is downloaded, the passenger simply completes a brief registration process and is good to go.”
Interested in learning more about HCE for mobile ticketing? You can check out our product page here, our eBook here and our article archive here.
