Metropass: Smart dabbles with public transport

Smart Communications, the Philippines’ biggest mobile phone network, is now dabbling with transporting people across the metropolis. They plan to do this through “Metropass” and a contactless PayPass card.

Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) has forged a partnership with MetroPass Systems, Inc. (MetroPass) ) to jointly develop and implement an electronic payment system for Metrostar Express (MRT-3) commuters through an MRT Smart Money PayPass card.

Under the terms of the partnership, MRT commuters will be able to use the Smart Money PayPass card to electronically pay for their daily transportation costs, eliminating the need to queue in lines to purchase tickets.
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This will culminate in a single “œcontactless” card that will empower people to purchase essential services such as transport, mobile phone reloading, bill payments, and remittances across physical, Internet, and mobile spaces.

I saw posters on the Ayala MRT station and they advertise a commuter’s helpdesk, an information desk of sorts.

It’s good that Smart and Globe are making their services even more accessible to the public through kiosks at transportation hubs. Here’s one thing Metropass is doing right so far: communicating with bloggers.

Will the MetroPass’ PayPass card be good alternative to the current magnetic card of the MRT? Will it be affordable and convenient for commuters? Will it do a better job than Globe’s G-Pass? Will all these services shorten (or just divide?) the slithering queues in MRT stations?

Related Link on PTB (just about one year ago): Ticketless MRT entry through G-Pass

ka edong
btw, you remember the game we used to play when we were kids? Pataasan ng ihi? Fun watching the giants play, doncha tink? 😀