According to Le Parisien, iPhone users in Paris and Île-de-France will be able to use their smartphone to validate their transport tickets (metro, bus, RER, etc.)
Validating your transport ticket on the Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) network with an Android smartphone has been possible for a long time now – under certain conditions. Good news, the iPhone will also taste this possibility of dematerializing the metro, bus, RER or tram ticket, as well as the Navigo pass. However, we will have to wait until 2023 for this.
The information comes to us from the newspaper The Parisian. He explains that the negotiations between Apple and Île-de-France Mobilités have finally led to an agreement unlocking the validation function of the public transport ticket in Paris and in the region of the capital covered by the network. Note that this novelty will also be available for Apple Watch watches and iPads (if people want to try it with a tablet).
” We cannot give a precise date yet, because it depends on the progress of the developments carried out by Apple in Cupertino. But this time, for sure, it will happen “, declares to theParisianLaurent Probst, managing director of Île-de-France Mobilités. Last step before really launching the initiative: the IDFM board of directors must vote on this contract with the Cupertino company this Thursday, February 17.
Apple and NFC
As a reminder, the possibility of replacing your metro ticket or Navigo pass with your smartphone is based on NFC. A technology that Apple had always preferred to restrain to control its use cases and security. On the side of Android devices, NFC was not a problem, but the obstacle was elsewhere.
It was necessary to use either a Samsung smartphone or a smartphone equipped with an Orange or Sosh SIM and NFC compatible. However, in 2022, thanks to a complementary technology called HCE (Host Card Emulation). This should allow many more Android smartphones to take advantage of this function.
2023, sure?
As for iPhones, it remains to be seen whether, in 2023, all smartphones stamped with the apple logo will be compatible or whether there will also be some binding conditions to take into consideration. One can also wonder if the American giant will really make this project one of its priorities.
Despite Laurent Probst’s optimism, a delay in implementation cannot be ruled out. In the meantime, iPhone users can still top up their transport ticket (Navigo, T+ ticket) from their phone.
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