Cubic Transportation Systems Launches NextWave Mobile Business System for Transit Agencies
CHICAGO (PRWEB) September 30, 2013 -- 2013 APTA Annual Meeting – In response to the tremendous worldwide growth in smartphone adoption, Cubic Transportation Systems, the world’s largest processor of payment transactions for the transit industry, today launched its NextWave Mobile Business System—a comprehensive platform that enables transit operators to rapidly and securely provide new mobile services to their customers.
The platform will be demonstrated at the APTA Annual Meeting today, Sept. 30, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT at Cubic’s booth #804.
With NextWave, transit agencies can quickly introduce an agency-branded mobile app backed by a cloud-based array of support services that:
• Leverage Near Field Communications (NFC) technology to turn a mobile phone into a contactless fare card, reducing the reliance on physical card distribution
• Enable mobile fare purchases by turning NFC enabled mobile phones into the equivalent of a ticket vending machine that can re-load contactless transit cards in real time
• Offer customer support through mobile self-services, including managing all fare purchases; reviewing balances, transactions and fare charges; and receiving notifications about account status and usage
• Help travelers plan journeys and receive alerts about travel conditions
• Generate new revenues by leveraging advertising and mobile marketing opportunities
NextWave simplifies the complexities of deploying mobile services by providing a cloud-based platform that integrates with both closed- and open-loop contactless fare systems, payment processors, mobile networks, NFC platforms, and both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
“Our existing agreements with mobile network operators, a cloud-based delivery model and off-the-shelf mobile service capabilities make this a game changer,” said David deKozan, vice president, strategic initiatives, Cubic Transportation Systems. “NextWave can help transit agencies get mobile services to market fast at a fraction of the cost associated with dedicated systems. At the same time, they are putting into place a solid foundation for the future that enables them to progressively move from conventional NFC fare processing to collaborative partnerships with mobile payment, NFC access and mobile marketing initiatives poised for broad industry adoption.”
Deployment timelines and systems integrity were demonstrated in a recent trial that successfully validated the NextWave technology. During the two month trial participants purchased fare products, checked card balances and found travel and transaction histories directly through interaction with a mobile app running on both Apple and Android devices. The NextWave system provided the app connectivity into to the agency’s back office effectively making the mobile phone an integrated terminal on the fare system network equivalent to in-station vending machines and card validators on buses.
Cubic first implemented mobile ticketing technology in 2006 and today hosts travel award-winning barcode ticketing services in Germany for five public transport associations representing 260 individual transport operators serving more than 10 million customers. Cubic has also demonstrated NFC transit fare applications transit with customers in San Francisco, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Since 1995 Cubic has been the industry leader in deploying contactless smartcard technology including both closed-loop contactless and EMV payment cards with its many international clients, strongly positioning the company to facilitate the migration into mobile services as the mobile community embraces compatible technology for its NFC solutions. Cubic’s NextBus is also the leading provider of bus and train arrival alerts, also delivered on mobile phones.
Mobile support by transit agencies is now a service imperative. A recent survey conducted by Pew Research reported that more than 91 percent of the adult population has a cell phone and more than 58 percent of these are now smartphones. This grew from 46 percent during the period extending from February 2012 to May 2013. Further survey results indicate a very strong correlation between transit ridership profiles and market segments having higher percentages of smartphone ownership.[1
About Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems and secure communications systems. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services for U.S. and allied nations.
Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is a leading integrator of payment and information solutions and related services for intelligent travel applications. Cubic delivers integrated systems for transportation and traffic management, delivering tools for travelers to choose the smartest and easiest way to travel and pay for their journeys, and enabling transportation authorities and agencies to manage demand across the entire transportation network – all in real-time. Cubic specializes in design, development, manufacture, supply, installation, integration, services and information. Services provided by Cubic include on-site management, central systems, operations support, patron support, business support and field services.
Every year, nearly 7 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic payment and information systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Active projects include London; Brisbane (Southeast Queensland) region, Australia; New York/New Jersey region; Washington, D.C. /Baltimore/Virginia region; Los Angeles region; San Diego region; San Francisco region; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; Atlanta region; Miami (South Florida) region; Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada; Sydney (New South Wales), Australia; Germany; and Scandinavia.
For more information about Cubic, see the company’s website at http://www.cubic.com. ;
[1] Smith, Aaron. Smartphone Ownership – 2013 Update. Pew Internet & American Life Project, June 5, 2013, http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Smartphone-Ownership-2013.aspx, accessed on August 6, 2013.
Contacts:
Debra Montner
Montner & Associates
PH: 203-226-9290 ext. 112
Cell: 203-984-7861
Timothy A. Hill
Director of Corporate Communications
Cubic Corporation
PH: 858-505-2430
Cell: 858-232-2927
timothy.hill(at)cubic(dot)com
Timothy Hill, Cubic Corporation, http://www.cubic.com, 858-505-2430, [email protected]
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