Secure Payments

A secure payment trial is being undertaken involving web-based payment systems for transport facilities. The trial includes:

• Off-bus ticketing to mobile phones using smartcard emulation to integrate with the current ticketing systems in use in Reading being undertaken by Orange.
• Use of web-enabled mobile devices to pay for car parking in Reading Borough Council controlled car parks using new software developed by EBSA.

Near-Field Communications Trials

NFC or Near Field Communication is an exciting area in mobile phone development

The SEEDA project is linking with Orange’s national trials and will involve approximately 80 trial-lists who will swap their Reading Bus smart card for a Mobile phone with smart card emulation for the duration of the trial.

NFC uses radio communication to connect the chip in the phone with the tag in the reader, which allows for communication between phone and ticket machine.

We can imagine a scenario where you could get public transport information to the phone just by holding it against a timetable at a bus stop - Easy and free.

This trial will enable users behavioural response to be evaluated as well as the evaluation of the technology and trials are due to start in around September.

Secure Payment Trials

This has been a simulated trial of car parking payment using a new WAP interface and back office software for payment services for a local authority. The trials are comparing the functionality of the new WAP interface with an internet interface and SMS messaging to the mobile phones.