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Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by maratc on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @06:21PM (#14501956)
Reading NFC transit passes doesn't sound too exciting. I mean, if a phone has an NFC chip, why not use the phone (plus an app) instead of a transit pass, tapping with your phone where you're expected to tap with your pass? This is like your phone wouldn't come with a music player, but would come with a full-fledged oscillograph instead.
Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by ben1040 on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @06:31PM (#14502027)
There is this Android app that allows you to read your transit pass to check the balance. It's pretty handy with a Clipper Card, for example.

http://codebutler.github.io/farebot/

That said Chicago seems to have the most convenient system along the lines of what you're talking about -- you can use plain old tap and pay at the terminal with Apple Pay or Android Pay.

Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by maratc on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @06:36PM (#14502074)
Reading balance is not too exciting, as I said. There doesn't seem to be any Android apps to let your phone function as a transit pass.

I understand why it would be cool to let your phone replace your transit pass (as it's cool to let your phone replace your credit card), but I don't understand why it's cool to let your phone replace a transit pass reader.

Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by kalleboo on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @09:16PM (#14502993)
Japan-model Android phones ship with an app called "Osaifu-Keitai" which you can load up with a transit pass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaifu-Keitai
Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by ben1040 on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @07:05PM (#14502250)
Because I often forget how much I have on my card, and tapping my card is easier than logging into the web portal.
Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by cwyers on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @06:56PM (#14502206)
Because I own a phone and not a transit pass reader?
Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by rhodysurf on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @08:07PM (#14502653)
That was what the original poster was saying: Using the phone as the pass instead, not reading the pass itself
Re:Apple joins the NFC party, providing iOS developers the a... by ornitorrincos on Wednesday June 07, 2017 @11:20AM (#14507136)
where I live you can also recharge the cards using the phone, which while not as useful as using the phone, it's more than a simple reader.