Contactless subscription validation: with AEP it’s also possible with Apple smartphones, without a QR code to scan

The innovation in the field of electronic ticketing was presented at Next Mobility Exhibition

Validating a season ticket for public transportation with an Apple smartphone is now easier and faster. With the innovation that AEP has introduced, it is possible to perform contactless validation of the subscription even with Apple smartphones, without having to scan a QR code. The solution enables the validation of dematerialized travel passes on one’s smartphone by simply bringing it closer to the validator reader-and this through the same act that users already use to validate traditional media.

This is made possible by Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, used instead of NFC. The latter is usable, precisely, with Android but not on Apple, where NFC is currently allowed to be used in HCE mode. Instead, through BLE, the smartphone recognizes the proximity to the validator (with a tolerance level accurate enough to allow its application even on validators very close to each other, as in the case of side-by-side turnstiles), in order to initiate “on the air” the communication necessary to validate the ticket. The solution is available via SDK, so that transport companies can also integrate it on their own apps.

The launch of contactless subscription validation on Apple smartphones at the Next Mobility Exibition

The innovation was presented in May in Milan at the “Next Mobility Exhibition.” AEP’s presentation touched on other crucial topics. such as those on Artificial Intelligence and Mobility as a Service (MaaS), taking the opportunity to bring reflections and direct experiences in the field, as well as to illustrate its own innovative solutions for the purpose of dematerialization of passenger tickets.