Smart Bits: Malaysian Firm Buys Highway Toll System

Philips Semiconductors said its Mifare contactless smart card technology has been acquired by Efkon of Malaysia for nonstop electronic toll collections.

The operator issued an initial 200,000 smart cards usable on a highway network that includes one of the world's longest toll roads. By the end of the project, one million on-board units will be installed inside participating vehicles, Philips said, up from 50,000 as of 10 days after the launching.

The program "enhances Philips' vision of Mifare being the key to people's mobility," said chip card product manager Alexander Harrer.

"Imagine you get in your car and drive through a road toll," he said. "Your fee is deducted on the fly. Then you reach a park-and-ride, where you use the same card to pay for parking. You get on the bus and again pay with the same card. In addition, this can be used as your banking card-a truly seamless journey with a single smart card."