Video: Smartphones May Outsmart MetroCard Swiping

Mike Dillingham's Flickr

Swiping is so over. Or it will be, at least for elites with good credit, or basic checking, or one of those fancy "smart phones." Back in June the MTA kicked off a pilot program which gives participating commuters access to select subway, PATH, NJ Transit, and MTA buses with just a tap of their MasterCards. Now Visa has come on board, and the company is testing out "contactless payments" with smartphones.

Commuters with phones equipped with Radio Frequency ID chips (AKA RFID chips, AKA THE MARK OF THE BEAST) would simply pass their device over the same scanner that scans the RFID chip in a credit or debit card. Phones without RFID chips could be retrofitted with a chip sticker on the back; BlackBerrys are already equipped, but iPhone users will reportedly have to buy a special case. (Eventually RFID chip implants will give citizens in good standing access to the transit system with just a wave of their chip-embedded hand.) According to the Post, straphangers who use four participating banks, including Bank of America, are eligible, and an application would deduct fares directly from their bank accounts.

And Reuters reports that Visa is currently testing contactless transit payments in LA, but participating consumers have to buy special prepaid debit cards, which they can tap to ride a subway or bus. The cards can also be used to buy goods or services from other retailers, as well as track the movements of all dissident terrorist sympathizers. Here's a video showing how it works:

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By John Del Signore in News on September 24, 2010 12:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

I want the MTA to bill an unlimited each month onto my phone or plastic, put it in my pocket and never worry about it. Walk right onto the bus or subway and not have to take out anything. Though when riding the PATH, I like to put the Smartlink in my derriere pocket and just bump my butt on the reader.

Dave

Great, smashing my phone into the side of the turnstile 4 times a day is exactly what I need to be doing.

John L

I'll take privacy over convenience any day.

longacre

This has nothing to do with smartphones. It's a sticker. You can put the sticker on your ass or your forehead and it'll work.

John Del Signore

From Visa's press release (which I just now received): As part of Visa’s participation in the NY transit program, Visa is testing both payment cards and popular smart phones enabled with Visa payWave. The mobile technology, which was developed by DeviceFidelity, transforms many smart phones with a microSD slot into a Visa payment device.

Guest

...but i've long perfected my swiping. with style. :-\

HairyG

Wait till the fare increase comes to cover the cost of the fees collected from the MTA by Mastercard. Using credit/debit cards adds a (invisible) tax to everything we purchase with them.

Detex

I use a CC to buy my card every month, that is the difference?

smilez4milez

So is this an attempt to put the unlimited card into "obsolescence"? Luring people, who would be better off with the discounted rate of a monthly card, to the convenience of pay-per-ride on their Blackberry? I don't like it.

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

The PayPass trial allows the credit card holder or smartphone owner to purchase an Unlimited MetroCard and/or an Unlimited PATH subscription. Or get discounted paygo rides. When the credit card or phone is read, the reader will find that purchase and let the rider through.