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Councils given go-ahead to add smart card apps
9 Oct 2009

Local authorities across the UK now have the opportunity to add a variety of services to a concessionary transport smart card.

Having received permission from technical standards authorities, people who are issued such cards may have the opportunity to pay for leisure centre use, library fees and transport all with one card, Computing reports.

SmartCard Networking Forum Treasurer Ron Hetherington, who is employed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, said that councils have been holding back with the development of new applications for the cards while waiting for approval.

"Now that this has been agreed, local authorities can push their smart card strategy forward more confidently," he added.

With the help of eMoney network sQuidcard, Bolton Council was able to launch the first multi-purse smart card in the Greater Manchester area recently, allowing users to pay for a variety of local services such as Arriva bus travel.

The inclusion of the ITSO-enabled travel purse to the already multi-functional technology led sQuidcard Chief Executive Officer Adam Smith to say that Greater Manchester is leading the way towards a cashless society.