On Track Innovations Ltd (OTI) one of the operators of the ticket vending machines in the Polish capital's underground (Metro) stations and the bus stops in the Warsaw vicinity, SIX Pay, an European player in the acquirers market, and MasterCard have started tests of contactless payment cards using MasterCard PayPass technology in selected urban transport ticket vending machines. The people of Warsaw have been provided with the option to make quick non-cash payments for their tickets in all OTI subsidiary, ASEC's machines located in the Metro stations and other locations in Warsaw.
"Adding the capability to support MasterCard PayPass is in line with our strategy to add usages and applications to the ticketing infrastructure for added convenience of Warsaw's residents" says Oded Bashan, Chairman and CEO of OTI.
"Today, by accepting PayPass technology to buy a Warsaw metro ticket, every traveler can benefit from main advantages of its solution as speed, comfort and security," comments Sebastian Krzyk, Chief of the Acceptance Network Department of the Polish division of MasterCard Europe. "Also, I am convinced that this is the beginning of the path which leads not only to PayPass cards' acceptance in ticket vending machines and the validators in the means of urban transport but also to issuing city cards with an integral payment application or payment cards with the facility to load long-term tickets. We are convinced that this is the right direction for Poland," adds Krzyk.
Currently in Poland PayPass payments are accepted, for example in: McDonald's, Coffee Heaven, Zabka, Kolporter, Empik, Sferis and in Shell petrol stations. Additionally, contactless payments can be made in such music festivals as Smooth Festival, Open'er Festival, Coke Live Music Festival, Selector Festival and Off Festival. Moreover, contactless payments are accepted in selected Extra Class football league stadiums.
"SIX Pay is known across Europe for innovative payment solutions. We are delighted to announce the completion of the first contactless payment project in Poland. Other projects will soon follow, markedly enlarging the network of contactless payment transaction points," comments Pawel Markowski, Country Manager for SIX Pay in Poland.
The acceptance network of PayPass technology is constantly growing in Poland and, according to the financial forecast of Polasik Research, the network can increase up to 15,000 service and retail locations by the end of this year. Around the world there are currently nearly 75 million PayPass cards and devices accepted in 230,000 service and retail locations.