With a smartphone, you hardly need a wallet anymore. Airline tickets no longer need to be printed, but can be scanned directly at the airport via your phone. Paying is now much easier as you can insert your phone into the payment device. It’s only a matter of time before you can use your smartphone to check-in on public transport as well. But how long do we have to wait? And what can you expect?
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The idea behind mobile check-in on public transport is simple: hold the back of your phone to the check-in pole and the doors at the station will open automatically. You can find out more about your last train journeys and view your current balance through an app.
Did you forget to check? Then, the accompanying app can give a timely notification so you never have to ask for your money back later.
OV-Chip Mobile
For some time it has been possible to travel by train in this way. More than five years ago, Translink, the company behind the transit chip card, launched a test. Under the name OV-Chip Mobiel, it has become possible to check-in in public transport with Android devices from Vodafone, KPN and KPN subsidiaries Simyo, Yes Telecom and Telfort.
Many travelers were interested in this, and people wanted to transfer their public transport chip cards to their smartphones. However, less than a year and a half later it was decided to discontinue the OV-Chip Mobiel. According to Translink, the underlying technology was not suitable enough for the mass promotion of the OV-Chip Mobiel.
At that time, about eight thousand people used the public transport app, and they weren’t nearly as positive. For example, users often had to install multiple apps that didn’t work well together, and there were frequent bugs.
New try: OVpay
However, Translink does not give up and wants to try again, this time with OVpay. Trials with OVpay have been launched in several regions, including Haaglanden and Zaanstreek, which enable passengers to check-in on the bus with a smartphone. Make sure you have Apple Pay or Google Wallet on your mobile and you can check-in directly with your mobile debit card.
Checking in on the train is a bit more troublesome and is only possible for now if you have registered for Train journeys with a GPS trial. You will then be instructed by NS or Arriva to install an app and you need to register.
During this process you connect your OV chip card to your NS or Arriva subscription. Before starting a train journey, you start your journey at the departure station in the app on your mobile phone and then you will see a barcode with which you can open a closed door.
After all, you should be able to check in for the train with your debit card on your mobile phone without having to turn on your GPS.
Earlier this year, it was announced that OVpay will be introduced nationwide this summer. A new OV chip card was due to appear at the end of 2022, but last month it was announced that the national rollout of OVpay was delayed.
The goal is for anyone to be able to check-in and check-out anywhere with OVpay by 2023.
Source: Computer Totaal
