9 Ways Mobile Ticketing Is Taking Off

Published June 13, 2014 3:13 PM

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Updated October 20, 2016 10:05 AM

1 Min Read

While there is much attention on mobile payments at the point of sale, several companies are working on mobile payments for commuting, parking and other scenarios where a mobile app could replace a paper ticket or fare card. But it hasn't always been a smooth ride for these new technologies. (Image: ShutterStock)

On the Right Track

Chicago is moving ahead with a plan to switch all "L" train riders to the Ventra system after resolving issues with customers being double-charged for fare. The Chicago Transit Authority is currently testing a mobile version of Ventra, which today is available as a contactless prepaid card powered by Cubic Transportation. (Image: ShutterStock)

Staying Afloat

Bytemark recently released the long-awaited 2.0 version of the New York Waterway app. This version adds the ability to store digital tickets offline, a welcome feature for commuters who may have been left at the docks when the earlier version of this app could not connect to a server to validate a previously purchased ticket. (Image: ShutterStock)

Toy double-decker bus and map of London

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Timing Is Everything

Transport for London is giving contactless mobile payments another shot, after earlier tests determined that Near Field Communication-based mobile payments took longer to complete than its contactless Oyster card. (Image: ThinkStock)

parking

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Park It Here

Even parked cars have had a bumpy ride. Parkeon, for example, had to install a purely digital parking payment system after too many users got confused by an initial deployment based on paper tickets and coupons. The new system lets users pay with a smartphone app or use a payment card or cash at a meter. (Image: ThinkStock)

New York

New York's Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road are deploying a mobile ticketing app from Masabi Ltd. The app, called JustRide, displays tickets as a bar code for conductors to scan.

Boston

Masabi also works with Boston, which began using mobile ticketing in 2012 for rail lines north and west of the city. Less than half of Boston's rail stations have ticket vending machines, so the app should help commuters who previously had to pay a surcharge to purchase fare on board the train. (Image: ShutterStock)

Vehicles pass the entrance to the Walt Disney World theme park and resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. Walt Disney Co. said it agreed to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc. for about $4 billion in a stock and cash transaction, gaining comic book characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America. Photographer: Matt Stroshane/Bloomberg

Matt Stroshane/Bloomberg

Just Like Magic

Disney is steadily expanding use of its MagicBand system, a wristband and mobile app that can be used as a theme park ticket, hotel key and contactless payment card. (Image: Bloomberg News)

Taking Flight

Airlines have widely adopted mobile ticketing to handle check-ins, boarding and other procedures. But there is untapped potential here: NCR Corp. is working to expand mobile payments to airport shops. (Image: ShutterStock)

Team Spirit

Tampa Bay Lightning season ticket holders were offered a jersey with a payment chip in its sleeve in 2011. The technology, from NCR, could also be used for stadium admission and parking payments. (Image: ShutterStock)