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

  • Czech company cross celebrates Olympics success
    March 26, 2014
    Fresh from success in helping the Russian city of Sochi prepare for the Winter Olympics, Czech traffic technology company Cross is showing two new products at Intertraffic. Its RS 4S traffic controller is a more compact, cost-efficient version of its existing model. Head of sales Tomáš Pospíšek described it as a ‘4.5 generation’ model, which could handle all but the most complex intersections. “It’s a little more simplified than the existing model, but more than enough for most intersections you would find
  • Assocations news worldwide
    May 13, 2016
    ITS America 2016 promises to be anything but ‘business-as-usual’ as its new president and CEO, Regina Hopper, aims to broaden the scope and discussions at the event, billed as “A New Show Representing This Transformative Moment in Intelligent Transportation.” Signifying the changes, this year’s event is in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley and has adopted the theme “Integrated Mobility. Transportation Redefined.”
  • OKeenea has safer pedestrian crossings in view with aBeacon
    March 19, 2018
    Okeenea already produces its more conventional accessible pedestrian signal (APS). While it has been a successful product, according to the company, it is also noisier and so is not so convenient for visually impaired people. Now, Okeenea has launched the aBeacon, which it says is the perfect mix of the APS and high-end technologies like iBeacon to provide new digital services to improve mobility of all citizens. Key features of the easy-to-install aBeacon include less operational noise and also activation
  • Remote monitoring, maintenance and repair From Siemens
    March 10, 2017
    We look at Siemens’ common Remote Service Platform (cRSP) which provides automatic monitoring, preventive maintenance and, if needed, remote repair services for the connected customer facilities. It won’t replace the screwdriver or technician, but it will make their work so much easier as many failures can now be solved via remote maintenance. The platform has been certified by external audits and meets the highest security standards so that it can also be used for monitoring power stations and large med