The use of an electronic smart-card as an alternative means for users' to access and pay for transport services is now emerging as a viable option for many operators. However, although the technology has been available for more than a decade it is only within the past year or two that transport operators and other system providers have begun to introduce, on a medium to large scale, smart-card based systems to either complement or replace existing means of payment. This paper aims to provide a perspective on some of the recent activities associated with the development and deployment of smart-card based systems and identify some of the issues which may be crucial in opening up the market for cards in the transport sector and considering the card as a tool for more than just payment.
Abstract