GlobalPlatform launches transportation task force

GlobalPlatform has set up a Transportation Task Force with the aim of actively contributing to the evolution of smart ticketing solutions. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a standard travel media that will offer multi transportation network ticketing solutions which provide a variety of additional services to passengers, including everything from bike rental to banking services.

The task force is being led by Michel Barjansky, innovation manager at the engineering department of French transportation organisation RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP).

The Transportation Task Force will work with GlobalPlatform’s existing Card, Device and Systems committees to modify and advance its existing specifications in order to address specific requirements highlighted by the transportation industry. In particular, it will work closely with GlobalPlatform’s Mobile Task Force which has established links with StoLPaN, ETSI, the GSM Association, European Payments Council, Association Européenne Payez Mobile, Ulysse and the Mobey Forum.

The task force will begin by publishing a white paper that will explain how GlobalPlatform specifications enable the usage of a third party media, such as a mobile phone, for transactions, for enhancing mobility by facilitating the co-existence of different local transport applications on the same media and allowing transport operators to enrich services by offering new applications throughout the lifecycle of the solution.

“The transportation industry has identified the value smart card technology can bring to their networks such as efficient e-ticketing distribution,” says Barjansky. “As a secure multi-application smart card specification provider representing payment systems, the telecoms community and transport operators, we believe it is important that GlobalPlatform contributes to this evolving landscape from an independent, cross-industry perspective. By participating now, GlobalPlatform can support the convergence of the transportation market with other sectors to create exciting and convenient services to passengers.”

“GlobalPlatform has an established, secure and flexible smart card infrastructure that transcends markets and supports multi-application, multi-actor and multi-business model implementations,” added Gil Bernabeu, GlobalPlatform’s Technical Director and Technical Advisor for the Standardization and Technology Department at Gemalto. “This means that a transport operator deploying an e-ticketing solution today can benefit from our experience and knowledge by using GlobalPlatform’s latest and most sophisticated technology, which will save significant time to market as well as research and development costs.”

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