1997-02-07 , ID-9702

Together with three private bus operators in the area, Tampere City Transport (TCT) decided to use Inter Marketing's MTS (Multi Ticketing System) FLEXim Fare Collection Scheme based on the contactless MIFARE^® Technology developed by Philips Semiconductors / Mikron. The system is planned to be installed in spring '97, while the pilot has already started in December '96. The existing contact ticketing system, which has been operational since '95, will soon handle also contactless MIFARE^® cards. In a second stage this combined system is planned to be extended also to neighbouring communities.

In the first run Tampere City Transport plans to issue 72,000 contactless smart cards and 10,000 contact memory smart cards for tourists. The equipment for the first stage, combining both contact and contactless technology, includes:

• 370 MTS electronic ticketing and reloading machines handling contactless, contact and magstripe cards
• some 360 MTS contactless smart card validators
• 10 MTS portable ticket validator units for inspectors
• 50 MTS contactless and contact operating ticket vending and reloading machines to be set up at kiosks

Background information on Inter Marketing's FLEXim MTS Fare Collection System Architecture

The FLEXim MTS public fare collection system is a fully automated system. The modular architecture allows the use of multiple payment media. In addition to the contactless MIFARE^® Cards the system can handle cash, contact eletronic purse cards as well as disposable memory cards (they are phone-type cards for interim use, such as for tourist cards. With the given range of options the system can, of course, be extended to a City Card System. Data transfer is effected via radio modems, while system maintenance and new tariff updates are remotely handled via modem connections.