Contactless payment trial goes live on San Francisco's BART

We knew full well that a contactless payment trial would soon be underway in the city by the Bay, and now it's finally ready for use by 230 guinea pigs. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of details on the Samsung handsets and the technology itself, but we do know that the program is being closely watched in hopes of it operating quite smoothly. If indeed that happens, it could be "expanded," presumably allowing others in the area to have their bank account dinged with the swipe of a cell each time they need a lift. Furthermore, a video clip at CBS5 shows the pilot phone being used to snag some totally nourishing grub from Jack in the Box. Hungry for more? Hit up the read link to take a peek yourself.

[Thanks, Hans]

[John Johnson @ Jan 31st 2008 8:32AM]

If this ever works with Verizon phones, expect a 10% service surcharge.

[Cellenin @ Jan 31st 2008 8:37AM]

San Francisco..Welcome to 2001.

[Jason @ Jan 31st 2008 10:16AM]

Really, this is nothing new. Metrorail and Metrobus in Washington, D.C. have been using contactless smartcards at the faregates for years. And people have already succeeded in dissecting the cards and placing the contents behind the battery covers of their cell phones.

[aperture01 @ Jan 31st 2008 8:37AM]

about time we get something like this, the japanese have had it for years.

[JPN @ Jan 31st 2008 8:46AM]

Why can't they do this with any cell phone by having an RFID (I'm assuming that's what this has? Like my debit card has for PayPass?) chip inside something (a sticker, etc.) that attaches somewhere to your cell phone? I mean, at this point, who wants to change from their current cell (which they may or may not like) to what has to be, at this early stage, a small selection of phones just for this convenience? Maybe in a few years when almost EVERY cell phone will have this feature, but now....

[zed @ Jan 31st 2008 9:14AM]

they can do this with any phone, they just have an agreement with sprint for the trial. i use my work ID card the same way on the same scanners to enter and exit the system. BART has a tendency to do things very small scale first to "work out the bugs" but then they find a lot more bugs when they ramp up to full use.

[Doug @ Jan 31st 2008 9:16AM]

Basically, there is an contactless RFID chip (based on Sony's Felica technology) embedded into the battery cover of the phone. All i have to do is download the Application, sign up for the service.
I use my Softbank 913SH as an E-Wallet, Train Fare Card, and membership point cards.

I still dont understand the trial phase...JR East and the Private Railways have been using RFID cards (Suica & PASMO) for a year now..and its has been nothing but a success...

Heh, nice to see that the states is still years behind the japanese market.

[sheehanj @ Jan 31st 2008 9:23AM]

Take a trip to Tokyo, this is old tech. Better late than never.

[Zach @ Jan 31st 2008 9:58AM]

What most people don't realize is that this technology has been tested before in the United States - the end result? We didn't want it! People stuck to their credit cards rather then bothering w/ trying to pay through their cell phone.

[kev @ Jan 31st 2008 10:10AM]

The reason technology works so well in Japan and not here is plain and simple as the light of day: culture. They are more disciplined, more likely to follow the rules, less rude, and often willing to allow massive projects for improvement to inconvenience them. You can put things in public there that would be destroyed here in New York. Just take a look at the new subway trains, which have already been attacked by 'artists' who have nothing better to do than make trouble. I bet they've been thinking of ways to make to secure the device instead of the actual technology itself, given the numbers of lovely youth we have.

[Yankees368 @ Jan 31st 2008 10:22AM]

What the hell....that phone looks like a Samsung a920. That is a first generation EVDO phone from Srpint, circa 2005 I believe. That is just wrong.

[EddieW @ Jan 31st 2008 10:58AM]

This is really nothing new, all you have to do is to insert a chip. I was in Taiwan and their rail system utilize the same technology. And you can even insert the chip in certain phones and it will act as the fare card. It even works if your cellphone is out of battery. Most people just keep the card in their wallet and swap the wallet at the ticket booth.

[Richard Lai @ Jan 31st 2008 11:06AM]

And BART rhymes with...

[sfb @ Jan 31st 2008 12:22PM]

SMART?

[Oaktown Dan @ Jan 31st 2008 12:58PM]

Yo idjits! There is no such thing as San Francisco's BART. The BA stands for Bay Area, it covers many counties, there are as many stops in Oakland as SF, and it goes to several other decent size cities. Oh, and by the way, BART is headquartered in Oakland.

[csalt7 @ Jan 31st 2008 1:25PM]

One more reason for someone to snag your phone. PLEASE! why don't they give you a fast pass for your keychain?

[Rick @ Jan 31st 2008 1:36PM]

The RATP (Paris regional transport) has been using their Navigo smart cards in the Paris Metro system for several years now. No need to drag out the old cellphone. Just wave the card over the sensor in the turnstile.

[TC @ Jan 31st 2008 1:53PM]

Just another system incompatible with other transit agencies in the Bay Area. Way to keep separate fiefdoms and scrabble for Fed dollars. By the time it's fully implemenented there will be no hardware available and foreign consultants will have to be imported to maintain it, just like the original train system. Muni (San Francisco's exclusive public transport agency) is using computer systems from the 1970s.

[chunkyasparagus @ Feb 1st 2008 4:20AM]

Re:"No need to drag out the old cellphone"

The best part about Mobile Suica used in the Tokyo area is the ability to charge it up and buy monthly passes, express tickets using a credit card over the internet, completely removing the need to stop and buy tickets. Besides, most people have their cellphone handy at all times.

[Jamar @ Feb 1st 2008 4:23AM]

@csalt7- If they do this right it's no problem.
A. Have the phone prompt for a PIN every time.
B. Have a remote lock option.
Both are available on Japanese RFID-enabled phones.

[Sam Kimbrel @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:37AM]

This is going to become pointless in about three months when Translink goes live on BART...

[Pavan @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:20PM]

I tried that and it didn't work...I don't think RFIDs enjoy metal being placed right behind them.

[Pavan @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:21PM]

That was suppsoed to be re:

Jason
@ Jan 31st 2008 10:16AM