New Zealand to Test Mobile Tickets for Public Transport Services

New Zealand's Auckland Transport has announced trials of NFC based mobile payments for transport services in collaboration with Telecom New Zealand and Westpac credit card, along with technology providers, Gemalto, Thales and Paymark. The trial will involve some 30 staff from the six organizations. Trial participants will be able to use a mobile phone to make "tap and go" payments to access public transport in Auckland and make purchases at a small selection of retailers. The trial, which utilizes Telecom's XT network, is expected to enable participants to pay for Auckland's buses, trains and ferries through their mobile phones. The phone will communicate with the transport payment terminal to complete the transaction without having to swipe or insert a card.