NY/NJ Transit Trial

[ozbob]

http://www.ridenewyorknewjersey.com/home.html

The NY/NJ Transit Trial brings together New York City Transit, PATH (a service of Port Authority of NY & NJ), and NJ TRANSIT. Select subway lines and buses in New York City, select bus routes in New Jersey, Newark Airport Rail Station (AirTrain) and most PATH trains are now accessible with MasterCard® PayPass™ or Visa® payWave® contactless payment; the same payment method you can also use to buy groceries or shop at the drug store.

[ozbob]

This might be a major threat to the present dedicated public transport smart card systems?

The go card was touted in the early days of offering the benefits of shopping etc. beside PT use. The are still struggling with limited use cards for tourists and other minutia.  Day of reckoning is beckoning?

[colinw]

Funny, I was watching TV the other night and when an ad for Mastercard PayPass came on I commented to my wife that we should have Go Card readers that accept those in addition to dedicated cards like Go Card.

The other thing I would like is interoperability between systems in different cities based on the same techology, so when Sydney gets their Cubic system up & running Go Card works on it and a Sydney card works here. (Not sure if it could be extended much further than that, e.g. is the RFID technology underlying MyKi the same as Go Card?)

Actually, who needs cards at all?  Just microchip us all (like dogs & cats) and we'll just swipe the back of our hand or something :-)

[#Metro]

Does it just pull the cash?
How do they deal with concessions and passes?

[ozbob]

I would imagine you set it up as a user.  The system would know if you are concession etc.

[O_128]

what a great idea, why isnt this seriously looked at?
Media release anyone?

[somebody]

The other thing I would like is interoperability between systems in different cities based on the same techology, so when Sydney gets their Cubic system up & running Go Card works on it and a Sydney card works here.

Yes please.  The toll roads have it.

One interesting point is that the 1-day unlimited option requires 4 trips in NYC to be cost effective.  Another point is that the Newark Airtrain only costs $US5.50.  Far more reasonable than ours or Sydney's.

[ozbob]

One interesting point is that the 1-day unlimited option requires 4 trips in NYC to be cost effective.

Yes, but someone using the NY subway will probably rack up that easily, particularly with the incentive of the daily cap.  Flat $2.25, unlimited daily $8.25.  In the NY context a good deal I think.  The unlimited passes (periodical) 7 day @ $27,   14 day @ $51.50,   30 day @$89 are excellent products.  Another jurisdiction that has it right.

[dwb]

It would be a whole lot easier to implement Mastercard paypass if it were a flat fare/ entry fare only system. It isn't and should be here. There will be significant barriers to implementing... given the different fare algorithyms and refunds the computer has to do.

And I for one don't want all those little $2.50 charges on my credit card account!

[ozbob]

I think it would be like the auto top up, rather than a lot of little charges.  Rather than use a go card just use a universal credit card.  If something was to come along like that I am sure both options would be available.

The long promised extra functionality of the go card seems to be a distant memory as well.

[somebody]

It would be a whole lot easier to implement Mastercard paypass if it were a flat fare/ entry fare only system. It isn't and should be here. There will be significant barriers to implementing... given the different fare algorithyms and refunds the computer has to do.

And I for one don't want all those little $2.50 charges on my credit card account!

So the same price for a trip from Roma St to the Valley as for a trip to the Gold Coast?  No way!

[ozbob]

This technology is in use in Oz e.g.  http://www.commbank.com.au/business/merchant-services/mastercard-paypass.aspx

Variation Visa rolling out payWave mobile phone payments in NY subway and taxis interesting read.

[#Metro]

Finally! Integration with Taxi!

Next time the rail system falls over, I can rush out to the kiss and ride and catch a cab!

[ozbob]

Next time the rail system falls over, I can rush out to the kiss and ride and catch a cab!

Maybe in NY.  Might be a while in Brisbane ... judging by past form

[Derwan]

Does it just pull the cash?
How do they deal with concessions and passes?

Have a look at the website.

Fares and discounts are different for the three agencies, but you will still be able to use MasterCard® PayPass™ or Visa® payWave®  to ride at any of the participating NYC Transit subway and bus stations, PATH stations, NJ TRANSIT Bus routes and Newark Airport Rail Station (AirTrain).

No matter which agency your commute is on you'll be able to choose between Pre-Fund and Pay-As-You-Go. Make sure to read about all the options and benefits, including auto-reload and being able to track your ride history online, before making your decision. Choose the agency that best matches your commute.

Obviously we have integrated ticketing here so we wouldn't have to select an agency.

Unfortunately the PayPass and payWave systems haven't made significant inroads into Australia.  Neither of my credit cards have it.  I've only seen one place where you can use it for payment.

[#Metro]

Guess what is in BrisbaneTimes this morning?
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/no-pin-no-worries-in-new-card-payment-system-20101019-16sah.html

No PIN? No worries in new card payment system

A new no-touch, no-PIN card payment system speeding up the shopping process is raising security concerns.

An increasing number of Brisbane retailers are moving to the no-touch card system, which does not require a PIN or signature.

Shoppers simply tap their debit or credit card against an Eftpos-like terminal, wait momentarily for the green light to show it has been approved (like a Go Card), and leave.

[ozbob]

Fancy that ... 

[Golliwog]

I used one the other day. Turns out all of the newish Comm. Bank Debit mastercards have it. I didn't know it was there until the shop lady told me I didn't need to swipe and use a PIN, I could just touch and go. But the issue with it really is security. Because the thing about that transaction was it wasn't my card. I was getting my girlfriend a DVD and she was paying so I was using her card.

[Derwan]

Because the thing about that transaction was it wasn't my card. I was getting my girlfriend a DVD and she was paying so I was using her card.

And she'd obviously given you the PIN anyway.  It's also no different to you taking cash out of her purse.

Here's my comment on the story:

If I was a crook and got my hands on a credit card, I'd be spending up big on the internet, not running around buying coke and chips from IGA.

What I'd like to see though are user-defined limits for both individual transactions and the total for the day.  For example, you could set an individual limit of $10 and a daily limit of $100 - so the most you could ever lose was $100 (unless you didn't realise that someone stole your card).

When you look at it - it's no different to carrying around cash in your wallet.

[Golliwog]

Yeah she had given me the PIN.

I agree its just like carrying cash, but yes I think you should be able to put limits on it. Just like with online banking Bpay limits and the like, although to change those limits (with Comm. Bank anyway) I believe you have to call the bank and talk to them, although this may have changed now that they have changed security for transactions so that you need to recieve a text and enter the code to transfer money online.

[Derwan]

I have submitted my user-defined limits idea to Mastercard.  We'll see what they say!   

[Stillwater]

hummm.  How long will it take the 'bad guys' to come up with a proximity reader that will allow them to stroll a train, waving some harmless wand in the direction of people and picking up a swipe of their PayPass card?

[somebody]

hummm.  How long will it take the 'bad guys' to come up with a proximity reader that will allow them to stroll a train, waving some harmless wand in the direction of people and picking up a swipe of their PayPass card?

You'd hope it wasn't that easy.

[Derwan]

hummm.  How long will it take the 'bad guys' to come up with a proximity reader that will allow them to stroll a train, waving some harmless wand in the direction of people and picking up a swipe of their PayPass card?

From http://www.mastercard.com/au/personal/en/paypass/security.html

your PayPass device is equipped with secure technology ensuring each transaction is unique. In addition to this you must be extremely close range to the reader at checkout to work

Also, I was just reading http://www.mastercard.com/au/personal/en/zeroliability/index.html.

If someone uses your card without your consent, you get the money back - plain and simple.  There is no risk to you as the cardholder.  The risk is taken by Mastercard/VISA/Your Bank.