
The Netherlands already operates a national NFC public transport (OV) card, and the card will be loaded on the customers' Sims for the trial. This way they can check in and out on the train, bus and tram as well as top up their OV accounts with their phones, the same as with the standard card, by holding the phone against the card reader. The associated Smart OV app allows them to check their account balance, the cost of voyages and travel history.
If the trial proves successful, the operators, OV card operator Translink and the public transport companies aim to launch the service to a broader public in 2016. Other telecom operators will also be invited to join. People interested in participating in the trial can sign up online, at smart-ov.nl.
Vodafone announced separately that its Vodafone Wallet also now supports public transport payments. In an ad campaign running on YouTube and other channels, the operator said customers with the Wallet activated can now check in and out on the bus, tram and train with their mobile phone.