18,000 Aussie taxis to get contactless payment technology

By Stuart Corner
Friday, 15 August 2008 01:35

Technology

Cabcharge Australia is to install new VeriFone EFTPOS terminals in all 18,000 taxis using its service. These will support chip and PIN, pen and PIN, contactless and, down the track, near field communications (NFC) that will enable taxi FAres to be paid from NFC enabled cellphones.

VeriFone has been awarded a multimillion dollar contract to supply 20,000 of its Vx 810 terminals to Cabcharge  which plans to install these in all 18,000 taxis taking Cabcharge payments by December 2009. These represent 96 percent of all taxis in Australia.

According to VeriFone, the Vx 810 "combines the smallest footprint with the largest user interface, its ergonomic design with ATM-style interface, large keypad and high resolution display is highly suited to handing over to consumers for card activation. The system supports a broad range of payment and value-added applications and meets the latest security standards, including PCI PED as well as EMV Level and 2."

Cabcharge chairman and CEO, Reginald Kermode, said the new terminals would "provides a more convenient, faster and safer service for consumers."