The European R&D&I project mobiwallet, a pioneer in mobile payment technology, is designed to revolutionize urban transportation by developing a unified payment platform. This system aims to facilitate access to various means of transport via smartphone, simplifying payments and offering personalized services that improve the user experience. The project budget is 4,3 million euros and is co-financed by the European Union's Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). Mobiwallet has the potential to transform the future of smart cities or Smart cities.
What is Mobiwallet and what benefits does it offer?
Mobiwallet aims to integrate all urban transport schemes into a single technological platform capable of managing payments and services efficiently. This system will allow users to pay for tickets in buses, subways, trams, taxis and public bicycles, as well as paying for services related to public parking and parking in limited areas. All this, through mobile devices with a user-friendly interface that uses advanced technologies such as NFC, QR codes y augmented reality.
The solution not only simplifies payment, but also allows citizens to access promotions and real time discounts. In addition, it will help promote the use of means of transport ecological, achieving more sustainable and energy-efficient mobility.
To achieve these benefits, Mobiwallet employs tools of Business Intelligence, which allow us to offer customized solutions such as:
- Planners of custom routes.
- Reservations and payments of urban parking spaces.
- Sharing Apps taxis or private vehicles between different users.
- Special attention for with disabilities or reduced mobility.
Pilot cities and tests in Europe
The Mobiwallet project has implemented pilot tests in four strategic European cities: Santander (Spain), Florence (Italia) Novi Sad (Serbia) and the region of West Midlands (United Kingdom). These cities have been selected for their infrastructure, diversity of transport modes and willingness to embrace new technologies.
The pilot in Santander
At Santander, the Mobiwallet system integrates the Payment for different means of transport, including the city bus, public bicycles, taxis, and the private ferry known as "Pedreñeras". This pilot also has services for people with reduced mobility, which makes it more inclusive. It is currently being tested with real users to ensure that the final solution responds to the real needs of citizens.
Florence and its commitment to intermodality
In Florence, the project has focused on including other services such as "Park & Ride", a park-and-ride system, in addition to the integration with urban buses and trams. The distinctive feature of the Italian pilot lies in its web-based approach, which allows payments through online portals, and the use of solutions such as PayPal and QR codes to facilitate the transition towards smarter transport.
Innovation in Novi Sad
The pilot in Novi Sad stands out for the integration of technologies based on QR codes y augmented reality. This combination facilitates the paid and the consultation of real time routes, offering useful information such as arrival times and environmental data. In addition, this system is already prepared to include taxi payments on the same platform.
The West Midlands case
In the West Midlands region, the pilot has included the use of smartcards “Swift” that allow users to plan trips, buy tickets and top up their balance in real time. This is complemented by 100 remote readers installed to validate the ticket quickly and efficiently.
Key technologies behind Mobiwallet
Mobiwallet uses a combination of innovative technologies to provide a safe and efficient experience to users:
- NFC (Near Field Communication): Allows smartphones to interact with contactless tags to perform Fast and secure payments.
- QR codes: A low-cost method that allows users to access information and make payments through their phones.
- Augmented reality: This technology enriches the user experience by displaying contextual information about transportation, air pollution and other relevant data.
- Website: For those who do not have a latest generation smartphone, they enhance universal access to this platform.
Impact on mobility and sustainability
Mobiwallet not only aims to facilitate payments, but also to transform city mobility into something much more efficient and sustainable. Among its objectives is reduce energy consumption associated with travel and promoting the use of less polluting transport.
In addition, the platform will help public administrations to optimize resources and data through the interoperability of tariff systems (IFM), based on international regulations such as ISO 24014 y EN 15320This will allow the Mobiwallet model to be replicated in other cities with similar characteristics.
Citizen participation and future challenges
Citizen collaboration has been key to Mobiwallet's success. In each pilot city, hundreds of users have been involved, testing the system and providing feedback. valuable comments to tailor the solution to people's real needs.
Despite its success, the project also faces significant challenges, such as the need to further standardise technologies and overcome cultural and technological adoption barriers in some regions. However, the model proposed by Mobiwallet has already proven to be a scalable and adaptable solution that can transform European urban transport.
Mobiwallet is positioned as an innovative model that combines technology, sustainability and accessibility to significantly improve the experience of urban transport users in Europe, showing a promising future where mobile payments will be central to smart cities.