Skip to main content

Gemalto provides SMS ticketing to Milan public transport

Gemalto has deployed a Netsize SMS ticketing solution for Milan's public transport company, ATM (Milan), enabling commuters to purchase and use tickets via mobile phone. ATM carries around 700 million passengers a year and now benefits from a sales channel that is available 24/7 via any type of mobile phone on any of the four major Italian mobile network operators. The direct operator billing solution enables travellers to send a text message to a standard short code number, with the Netsize system charg
June 8, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
3866 Gemalto has deployed a 3864 Netsize SMS ticketing solution for Milan's public transport company, ATM (Milan), enabling commuters to purchase and use tickets via mobile phone. ATM carries around 700 million passengers a year and now benefits from a sales channel that is available 24/7 via any type of mobile phone on any of the four major Italian mobile network operators.

The direct operator billing solution enables travellers to send a text message to a standard short code number, with the Netsize system charging the fare directly to the customer's regular mobile phone bill. They receive an SMS in return with a code which they show to the bus controller on request or enter into the vending machine in exchange for printed metro ticket.

"Customers love the ease and accessibility of SMS ticketing, which does away with the struggle to find the right change," said Roberto Andreoli, CIO for ATM. "This new service for ATM marks the third phase of mobile ticketing in Milan and, with the introduction of QR codes, it's also possible to directly access underground lines, after buying a ticket via SMS ticketing."

"SMS ticketing delivers an easier ride for travelers and outstanding efficiency benefits for transport providers," added Benoit Bole, senior vice president of Netsize at Gemalto.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Singapore aims to set MaaS benchmark
    September 26, 2019
    Delegates at this year’s ITS World Congress in Singapore will be able to experience Mobility as a Service for themselves in the form of MobilityX’s Zipster app
  • Hamburg’s on-demand alternative to commuting by car
    December 5, 2017
    As Hamburg is confirmed as the host for the 2021 ITS World Congress, David Crawford looks at the city’s moves towards enabling MaaS-type operations. Germany’s second-largest city, Hamburg, is pinning its civic reputation on having its promised all-electric, on-demand, shuttle bus ridesharing service up and running by 2018. Partners in the three-year project are regional metro and bus service provider Hamburger Hochbahn and Volkswagen Group’s Berlinbased mobility innovation subsidiary Moia, which was set
  • Debating contactless toll charging by smartphone
    April 25, 2012
    Developments in the mass transit sector could provide indicators of potential for greater use of mobile consumer electronic devices for charging and tolling, according to Consult Hyperion’s Mike Burden. However, opinion among toll system suppliers is divided. Jason Barnes reports The combination of mass-market devices and their protocols, typified by smartphones featuring near field communication (NFC), points to some exciting cross-fertilisation possibilities in the charging and tolling sector, says Consul
  • PPP helps speed Chicago’s transit fare upgrade
    December 15, 2014
    David Crawford on a fast-tracked payment upgrade. This July saw the completion of the final stage of the implementation of Chicago’s new Ventra open fare payment system on the services of two of the region’s three transit providers, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and regional bus operator Pace. Ventra has been introduced to accept any contactless general purpose payment card, including personal debit and credit cards.