Mobile ticketing standard agreed by UK rail companies

Back in October we talked to Ben Whitaker from secure mobile applications company Masabi about tickets on mobile phones. The company has now announced that it's developed a new standard for secure barcode rail ticketing in conjunction with the Rail Settlement Plan, which is the ticketing organisation jointly owned by train and rail operating companies. The new open standard allows all mobile ticketing schemes to use a common barcode system and means they're able to start accepting a single mobile ticket on a journey involving multiple rail operators. [Press release]

Estonians to vote by mobile phone

Estonia's parliament has approved a law that makes Estonia the first country in the world to allow voting by mobile phone. The parliamentary elections in 2011 will be the first time the technology is used, although online votes were permitted last year. Estonia is already seen as an internet pioneer and has previously declared internet access to be a basic human right. [Sources: UPI.com; TMCnet.com]

200 million people will have used mobile coupons within 5 years

Juniper Research has estimated that 200 million people will have received promotional coupons on their mobile phones by 2013. The company says the market is currently most advanced in Japan and Korea but mobile coupons are becoming an increasingly popular tool for restaurants, entertainment and shopping in the USA and Europe. [Press release]

Money transfer and NFC will account for half of all mobile payments by 2013

A new report from Juniper Research says mobile money transfer and contactless Near Field Communications will account for 50% of the overall mobile payment market globally by 2013. It expects the mobile payments market to move from today's focus on digital goods (such as ringtones, music, and games) to customers transferring money and using NFC features to make purchases. In addition, the overall mobile payments market is expected to grow by a factor of ten between now and 2013. This week's Mobile News podcast includes an interview with Tom Whitaker of Masabi about the ways that m-payments and m-ticketing will change the way we use our mobiles. [Press release]

This week's Mobile News podcast now online

This week's Mobile News podcast is now available to download. In our main feature, Iain Graham talks to Ben Whitaker from Masabi about mobile payments and mobile tickets. Mark Bridge and James Rosewell join Iain to discuss the latest mobile industry headlines - plus there's a preview of the Motorola Aura. As usual, you can download or listen free at TheFonecast.com and on the Mobile News website... and you'll find us on iTunes and via RSS too.

Over 400 million mobile ticketing users worldwide in 5 years

Juniper Research says there'll be over 400 million people wordwide using their mobile phones for tickets by 2013, although the technology isn't being introduced as quickly as expected. The company's study blames barcode reading issues, lack of reader infrastructure and availability of Near Field Communications handsets for the delays. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leading sector is expected to be transport, followed by entertainment and sporting events. [Press release]

Mobile tickets for Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express is the latest rail service to offer mobile tickets. IT company Atos Origin has installed a mobile ticketing service for the Heathrow Express train network between London Heathrow’s airport terminals and Paddington Station in London. Passengers can have their tickets sent directly to a mobile phone as a bar code which is scanned by the train manager. [Press release]

Almost 3 billion mobile coupons & tickets sent by 2011

Returning to a study it first announced in March, the UK's Juniper Research says 2.6 billion mobile tickets and coupons will be issued worldwide to mobile phone users by 2011. Its new study says mobile coupons are becoming an increasingly important tool for companies, despite its March figures showing that just 1% of consumers are currently receiving coupons on their mobiles. The company estimates around $87 billion of tickets and $7 billion of coupon discounts will have been used on mobiles by 2011. [Press release; report]

2.6 billion mobile tickets by 2011

Over 2.6 billion tickets worth almost $87 billion (£43 billion) will be sent to mobile phones by 2011, according to a new study from Juniper Research. The main users of the new technology are expected to be transport and entertainment organisations, with on-screen barcodes and Near Field Communication devices both being used. [Press release]