Masabi, a developer of m-ticketing software for mass-market phones, today announced that it has signed a deal with thetrainline.com for a mass-market m-ticketing purchase and delivery system. The system will allow users to buy and display UK rail tickets direct from their mobile phones for any route on the National Rail network without having to visit ticket offices or ticket machines. The system is already in development with a rollout expected later in 2010.
While it has been possible to purchase tickets online for some time, the majority of tickets are still bought at the station where queuing can be a problem, particularly at peak times. The Masabi mobile application will enable tickets to be bought on almost any mobile phone and is designed to be easy to use, even for those who have never used a mobile application before. Using the application you will be able to search, purchase tickets using a credit or debit card and then either display the ticket, including a secure barcode, on the phone's screen or collect a conventional ticket at the train station. Rail operators have already commenced the rollout of barcode scanners on trains and at rail stations, with several major routes expected to be fully covered by the end of this summer.
The Masabi ticketing solution supports the widest range of handsets, from the latest smartphones to very basic handsets. It is also designed to work in the most challenging of situations, using either data or SMS to make fully secure ticket purchases even in areas with very limited phone reception. The system uses Masabi's award-winning, US government certified, EncryptME security to protect all transactions.
"To-date mobile ticketing has focused on niche trials, but we needed a partner able to address the specific issues of a mass-market rollout in the National Rail network." said Richard Rowson, product development director of thetrainline.com. "We conducted an extensive RFP process to identify the best technology partner for our mobile ticket sales and delivery system. Masabi were able to offer a unique combination of security, usability, barcode standards and mass-market phone compatibility – alongside a thorough understanding of UK rail."
"We all know the frustration of waiting for an available ticket machine or window while the minutes tick away towards our train's departure time" said Ben Whitaker, CEO of Masabi, "By combining our mobile technology with thetrainline.com's ticketing systems, we will be able to put a ticket machine in everyone's pocket, regardless of what phone they have."