Mobile ticketing

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1. Mobile ticketing is the process whereby customers can order, pay for, obtain and validate tickets from any location and at any time using mobile phones or other mobile handsets. Mobile tickets reduce the production and distribution costs connected with traditional paper-based ticketing channels and increase customer convenience by providing new and simple ways to purchase tickets.

2. Mobile ticketing is a method by which law enforcement agencies use in car computers to create traffic citation computers in the field, then print a hard copy for the defendant. The immediate advantages of mobile ticketing include reduced paperwork time, reduced chance of tickets being made void by human error and immediate accessibility of citation information by other departments.[1]

Applications for Mobile Tickets

  • Mass transit.
  • Airline check-in.
  • Cinema ticketing.
  • Concert/Event ticketing.
  • Trade shows

Advantage of Mobile Tickets

  • Reduced costs of ticket printing/mailing.
  • Improved consumer convenience.
  • Reduced infrastructure costs.
  • Increased revenue by increasing accessibility to tickets.

Using Mobile Tickets

Mobile Purchase

Over the past 10 years, e-commerce has exploded, with many consumers becoming increasingly comfortable with purchasing online. The next logical step for consumers who are looking for even more convenient methods of doing business is mobile purchase. This trend will be accelerated by the increased functionality of today's mobile devices.

Mobile Tickets can be purchased in a variety of ways including online, via text messaging or over the phone. Each application will suit one or more methods depending on the type of products/services offered. For repeated purchases such as weekly train tickets, text messaging is a good option. However, browsing large catalogues is often difficult on mobile phones, so online purchase may be easier in this case.

SMS Purchase

SMS purchase is usually achieved by sending an SMS message containing a short code (e.g. GV for a single adult ticket in Gothenburg, Sweden) to a service number. A return message is sent containing the mobile ticket. Different ticket types can be ordered with a different code (e.g. GU for a youth ticket or GN as a night tariff ticket in Gothenburg). The use of different ordering codes enables creating a variety of ticket types, either time- or distance based pricing and different zone systems.

In some cases, the price of the ticket can be added to the users mobile phone bill or debited from their pre-paid service using premium SMS billing, however, in most countries the tariff rates do not allow for the cost of a ticket to be billed to the phone. For example in the US, the maximim tariff is $9.99. Other methods for billing include having a mobile wallet that allows the phone user to charge their credit card.

Online Purchase

Online purchase is still an option for mobile tickets, allowing the user to setup an account and choosing payment options etc.

Mobile Ticket Delivery

Delivery of tickets to mobile phones can be done in a variety of ways:

  • Text messaging (SMS) - visual inspection or OCR
  • Text messaging with WAP Push - visual inspection or OCR
  • Picture messaging (SMS, EMS, WAP Push and MMS) - usually uses a barcode
  • Device RFID - This is the method proposed under the Near Field Communication (NFC) specification but not yet in general use, except of Japanese Osaifu-Keitai.

Very few phones outside Japan have RFID/NFC tags and so this method of delivery is largely unsupported. Picture messaging is supported by almost all phones and is generally the delivery method of choice. It usually requires the sender to know the phone model in advance so that the picture is rendered at the correct resolution. Text-only messaging is supported by all mobile phones and is the simplest method of delivery.

Mobile Ticket Scanning

Visually validated mobile tickets do not require a scan device. Most forms of mobile tickets require some form of device to read the ticket from the user's device. Picture-based messages require a laser scanner (for 1-dimensional/linear barcodes) or camera based imager (for 2-dimensional barcodes) to photograph the message and decode it into a ticket ID. Text-based codes use OCR software. Near Field Communication devices scan using an RFID reader.

Each of the above methods has its specific benefits and drawbacks. Optically reading the display of a cell phone is heavily influenced by th quality of the display (resolution, size of pixels, reflections). RFID is only supported by a very few phones yet.

Mobile Ticket Redemption

Visually validated mobile tickets are validated without connection to a back office system. Other forms of mobile ticket systems contact a server that is able to verify the ticket and record that it has been used.

Solutions

Company Delivery Method Scanning Method Validation Method Advantages Disadvantages Location
MBO Barcode-based SMS, MMS, WAP. Keyword Text-In/Push/WAP Purchase/Secure Interfaces Off the shelf image scanner / Visually Remote or local server Secure, live voucher, integrated marketing services, fraud prevention, API integration into existing systems

Investment for scanner devices.

Trinity Mobile Limited Barcode (SMS, MMS, WAP, NOKIA, EMS). Keyword Text-In/Push/WAP Purchase/Secure Interfaces Barcode reader, PDA or Kiosk Online lookup, local server or trickle fed PDA database. Wifi and GPRS Removal of human visual validation, unique one time use codes, total fraud prevention. Free software

Investment for scanner devices. High telecom costs of MMS messages.

MOBIMATICS Barcode SMS M-Scan Validator Caching GPRS manifest downloads stored on local devices. Removal of human visual validation, total fraud prevention.

Investment for scanner devices.

bCode Text-based SMS. Electronically (camera). Remote or local server. Secure, reliable, strong device support, dynamic user experience. Investment for scanner devices. Australia, United States
Mobiqa Barcode-based SMS, WAP Push or MMS. Off-the shelf barcode scanner. Remote or local server. Secure, wide-reach, visual ID included. Need to know phone model to send appropriate code. United Kingdom, Europe
Smartmachine 2D-Barcode-based SMS, WAP Push, MMS, 2D-Barcode via Mail to BlackBerry/PDA, NFC. CCD-camera based barcode scanner, attached to an access control reader or built into a kiosk. Online or local. Secure, strong device support, integration with ticketing, CRM and access management solutions. Rental of or investment for scanners needed. Worldwide
Impact Mobile Barcode-based SMS w/WAPpush or MMS. Off-the shelf image scanner. Remote or local server. Secure. API to integrate to existing ticketing solutions

No visual validation. Investment for scanner devices. Problem with several phone models. High telecom costs of MMS messages.

Plusdial Text-based SMS Visually / validators


Option to add validators cabable of reading SMS text characters.

Strong device support. No investment for scanner devices. Patented control code system for visual validation. Secure.

Swiftpass Barcode-based message (SMS, MMS, EMS and WAP). Off-the shelf and custom built barcode scanners. Remote or local server. Secure.

Investment for scanner devices. High telecom costs of MMS messages.

Timoco Barcode-based SMS, WAP Push or MMS. Off-the shelf barcode scanner, custom built barcode scanners (1D, 2D) Remote or local server. Secure, wide-reach, visual ID included. Need to know phone model to send appropriate code. Netherlands, Europe
TynTec Text-based SMS. Visually. Strong device support (text SMS). Poor security. Only useful for short codes.
Wayin Solutions 1D and 2D Barcode-based message (SMS,MMS, EMS, WAP and EMAIL(Optional for Smartphones). Off-the shelf, Custom built barcode scanners (1D , 2D) Remote or Local Server Secure, live voucher, integrated marketing services, fraud prevention, API integration into existing systems, Rental of scanner units Available(South Africa Only) Investment for scanner devices. South Africa
NTT DoCoMo (Osaifu-Keitai) Online purchase, downloaded to RFID chip (Mobile FeliCa) RFID reader (PaSoRi) Online lookup Secure RFID system without visual scanning. Not usable for non-compliant phones. Credit card registration needed. Still often uses paper ticket for confirmation.


See also

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