Buying tickets on the move – with cutting-edge chip technology

Hansjörg Röhrich, CEO of Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV), and Dr. Wolf Heine, Senior Consultant at T-Systems Competence Center for Traffic, provide insight into RMV’s electronic ticketing system, based on cell phones, and look ahead to future developments.

Why should your passengers use the new ticketing system, based on cell phones?

Röhrich: I am really excited about being able to purchase RMV tickets by pressing my keypad just three times – and am sure our customers will be, too. With Con Tag, they can view timetables and automatically generated travel tips at any stop or station – quickly and easily. And purchasing tickets is even more straightforward. We’re now working with our technology partners to develop further customer-driven services based on NFC.

How does T-Systems leverage its technology and expertise for local public-transport companies?

Dr. Heine: Local public transport is key to the future of our cities – and to our future mobility. So it’s essential that we remove barriers to entry, and make the entire system easier to use and more secure. T-Systems has been working towards this goal for many years, and now has extensive experience in electronic ticketing. Our role in the RMV2go project – and our other mobile information and ticketing solutions – is proof positive of our abilities.

What are the main benefits of NFC? Why did you decide to use this technology?

Röhrich: More than 6,000 passengers use their cell phones to buy e-tickets in Frankfurt alone. NFC technology will make traveling on local-public transport even easier and more secure. The purchase transaction is automatically initiated by holding an NFC-enabled cell phone over a ConTag. And the number of clicks required to complete the process has more than halved. With NFC, e-ticketing is as secure as using smart cards. So in the future, our customers can make more expensive purchases, such as monthly passes, while on the move – with total peace of mind. NFC can also be used to automatically check passengers have valid tickets.

Why does T-Systems use NFC?

Dr. Heine: As Mr. Röhrich explained, RMV customers no longer need to carry cash around with them. Now, they can buy their ticket anywhere in and around Frankfurt – quickly, easily and securely. But we intend to use the technology for more than just ticketing. In association with our partners, we are pioneering NFC-based projects – and following a clearly-defined migration path. “Conventional” e-ticketing based on cell phones was first introduced in Frankfurt in April 2006, and will soon be extended to the entire RMV network. We are now drawing on the experience gained, and taking the next step – by leveraging NFC technology in conjunction with cell phones.”

Several mobile ticketing systems are currently on trial in Germany. Can you tell us something more about the RMV e-ticketing concept, using NFC-enabled cell phones?

Röhrich: Our aim is to develop and implement transparent, customer-driven solutions that work reliably. We want to make sure our customers benefit from technological progress. Our passengers test our solutions under real-world conditions. In Europe, we are trailblazers in NFC-based electronic ticketing and information systems. We are already working on the introduction of clearly defined standards for interoperable electronic ticketing across Germany. The first modules will be completed late this year – and then rolled out one by one. We want to ensure that our NFC-based system is not a stand-alone solution.

What other services is T-Systems offering based on this new cell-phone technology?

Dr. Heine: T--Systems is not restricting its activities to information delivery and ticketing. In fact, our system is designed to be a portal for other services, too. We want to provide people with support for all their activities and tasks while on the move. So they can book a hotel room using their cell phone, pay for parking – and avoid having to grapple with ticket machines. They can even book and pay for tickets to trade shows and sport events. All these services – and more – will be based on a mobile platform. And, as a cell-phone user, I can access them when and where I like. It couldn’t be easier.