Skip to main content

Google launches NFC-enabled transit payment card in Kenya

Google launches NFC-enabled transit payment card in Kenya Google has launched Beba in Kenya, a pre-paid NFC (near field communication)-enabled card to allow cash-free payment of bus fares by transit travellers. According to TechMtaa, an African technology website, the move was expected, and is rolling out first in Nairobi. The card, which can be loaded with up the local equivalent of US$115, is likely attractive to customers, as it may help them dodge rising rates, or bus drivers that don’t provide exact or
June 11, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
1691 Google launches NFC-enabled transit payment card in Kenya
Google has launched Beba in Kenya, a pre-paid NFC (near field communication)-enabled card to allow cash-free payment of bus fares by transit travellers.

According to 5884 TechMtaa, an African technology website, the move was expected, and is rolling out first in Nairobi. The card, which can be loaded with up the local equivalent of US$115, is likely attractive to customers, as it may help them dodge rising rates, or bus drivers that don’t provide exact or proper change.

Google’s Beba website (%$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.beba.co.ke beba false http://www.beba.co.ke/ false false%>) provides a complete review of payment history by users when they sign in, as the payment cards have been synced to a web app. By tapping the payment card on bus conductor’s NFC-enabled smartphone, the fare is immediately debited, and a receipt to indicate the present balance and the used fare is sent to travellers via SMS.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Deutsche Telekom shows contactless parking technology
    March 25, 2014
    Deutsche Telekom is within months of moving into full-scale operation of its new-generation contactless payment kiosks as it tests the technology with initial users. Pilot schemes are already underway for two versions of its MyWallet Kiosk system, Compact and Flexible. Compact processes any card, including those with PIN entry, while Flexible is optimised for payment schemes with contactless or EMV chip and no PIN entry.
  • TAS Group reveals new Card 3.0 management platform at CARTES 2013
    October 31, 2013
    Electronic money, payment systems and financial markets software provider TAS Group will officially reveal its new Card 3.0 platform at CARTES 2013. The modular card management platform enables financial institutions to design, issue and manage payment cards and other digital products quickly and securely.
  • Bird enables reports of poorly parked and damaged e-scooters
    November 15, 2018
    Bird is to roll out an app feature which allows people to report poorly parked or damaged electric scooters to the company. It is an attempt to solve one of the biggest bugbears surrounding the deployment of scooters and dockless bikes – the issue of what happens when users abandon or abuse the vehicles. Bird says the app’s new ‘community mode’ will improve parking and safety in the cities where it operates, such as Portland and Salt Lake City. The company will use reports to reposition poorly parked e-
  • Online parking portal aids driver parking management
    March 3, 2014
    Scheidt & Bachmann is claiming that parking will become easier and more convenient with its new parking Portal, which it will feature at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2014. The company has developed the web portal where customers can register online, self-administrate their data and activate their identification media - RFID tags or licence plate numbers. Operators can offer this service to their customers without any administrative effort by the operator. The benefit for customers is that parking no longer has