A few days ago, we learnedthe arrival of support in February, on the iPhone, of the digital ticket for the RATP network. Questioned by 01net.com, Île-de-France Mobilités, the organization managing the Parisian and Ile-de-France public transport networks, gave some details on the subject.
In short, this switch of tickets to digital will be done in two stages. First of all, fromJanuary 20, users equipped with a Navigo card will no longer need to access a terminal or counter to recharge it. They can do this simply by sticking the card on the back of their iPhone and taking advantage of a new NFC feature in the ViaNavigo iOS app. The purchase of individual tickets can also be done in this way, with the Navigo Easy card.
Please note that if the new product arrives soon on iPhone, these procedures are alreadyavailable on Android smartphones since 2019.
Note that there will also be some limitations to take advantage of this: it is not possible to recharge Navigo maps from an iPhone older than model 7 (2016) and/or an iPhone running a version prior to iOS 13.
In addition, it was clarified that initially the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max will not be compatible with this new Navigo recharge functionality via NFC.
Digital tickets on the iPhone, finally
In February, on a date still unknown, the second stage of the digitization of transport tickets will be carried out with the possibilityto buy digital transport tickets, visible in the iPhone, in the Wallet application. So, there will no longer be any need to carry your Navigo card or even any other cardboard ticket. The iPhone will then be enough to pass through the metro gates without even having to queue at ticket counters and other automated terminals. We can't wait!
Finally, note that, if the arrival of this functionality arrives on iPhone well after Android, this may have been caused by along period of negotiations. The Cupertino company was notably accused last year of asking for a commission for the integration of the Navigo pass into the iPhone. Whereas for the Île-de-France region, there was no question of it. As Nicolas Lellouche of 01net.com points out, nothing indicates to date whether the American giant won its case or not. Will it cost more to use a digital ticket on iPhone than a traditional ticket? This would be surprising, but the question remains unanswered for the moment.
Île-de-France Mobilities
By: STIF
Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.
