EANS-News: Hoeft & Wessel sets e-Ticketing standard in South Africa
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Research & Development
Subtitle: - SmartCard Muvo card with EMV contactless presented in Durban
- Key milestone for Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network
Hannover/Germany, 15/11/2011. (euro adhoc) - Hoeft & Wessel AG, together with
the Standard Bank and the National Department of Transport in South Africa,
realises trailblazing e-Ticketing solution based on the EMV contactless system.
Within the scope of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN), the
intermodal system will initially be introduced amongst bus operators in
metropolitan Durban. In future, passengers throughout South Africa are to be
able to use this e-Ticketing standard. In doing so, the state at the
southernmost tip of the African continent plans to introduce one of the world´s
most modern payment systems for passenger transportation.
The presentation of the SmartCard "Muvo card" in Durban is an important
milestone for the IRPTN project throughout the country. The first SmartCards
will be issued starting in February 2012. Buses will simultaneously be
equipped with on-board computers and integrated Almex ticket printers from
Hoeft & Wessel. In total, more than 600 on-board computers of the type
almex.optima have already been delivered. In the opinion of Thomas Wolf, member
of the Board of Management of Hoeft & Wessel AG, the project delivers proof of
the high-tech expertise of this IT specialist: "We are honoured by the trust
and confidence of our South African customers. It shows once again that we, as
a German SME, are also able to set standards on an international scale as far
as technology and quality are concerned."
Muvo and the IRPTN use the EMV contactless payment functionality for the
SmartCard. The card is issued by MasterCard and provides a contactless payment
function known as PayPass. This also makes the system suitable for contactless
credit cards from the outset for passengers travelling on buses. The Muvo card
is topped up like an electronic wallet or purse at special recharge terminals.
Next, all a passenger needs to do is hold up the card in front of the scanning
device, and his or her ticket is immediately registered and paid.
Not only does the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) of the metropolitan
region around Durban make commuting with Muvo attractive by introducing
innovative payment methods; it also results in the creation of a dense network
of ticket points of sale, intensive public relations work and advisory services
to passengers on site by service personnel such as the Muvo card ambassadors.
In doing so, the ETA wants to position Durban as the world´s leading location
for modern e-Ticketing solutions. "Durban joins a number of other cities around
the world that are using automatic fare payment systems, such as Curitiba,
Singapore and Bogota. We are proud to see our city ranking among major cities
around the world in this initiative," explains ETA Head Thami Manyathi.
Media section with photos: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/12945/hoeft_wessel_ag/
The Company
The Hoeft & Wessel Group is the leading IT hardware and software technology
specialist for ticketing, parking and mobile solutions in Germany and the
United Kingdom. Established in 1978 by the two entrepreneurs who gave the
company its name and listed on the stock market since 1998, the enterprise has
grown into a group of companies generating sales of just under EUR 100 million
and employing a workforce of 500 employees. Its main locations are Hannover and
Swindon, west of London.
Further inquiry note:
Arnd Fritzemeier
Tel.: +49-511-6102-300
E-Mail: PR@hoeft-wessel.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: Höft & Wessel AG
Rotenburger Str. 20
D-30659 Hannover
phone: +49-511-6102-0
FAX: +49-511-6102-411
mail: ir@hoeft-wessel.com
WWW: http://www.hoeft-wessel.com
sector: Technology
ISIN: DE0006011000
indexes: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München
language: English