Snapper

[keg]

Looks like Snapper in its current form may have a limited life span if this extract from the GWRC Economic Wellbeing Committee report on Real Time Info / Integrated Ticketing is anything to go by..

Yep. I think what they're doing in Auckland suggests the way things will go here - "when" is the question though...

(And I wish GW would hurry up with proper integrated ticketing & fares - this whole "for rail only possibly bus later" is not good enough. 20+years of it being recommended in report after report and still seems along way off actually happening. )

[Andrew]

http://www.snapper.co.nz/newsroom/2010/ ... real-plus/

Earlier Snapper cards did just one thing… they were just Snappers. The Snapper application (or applet) was hard-wired on to the card, and so while it’s a very clever Snapper, it would never learn any new tricks. Enter the all-new Snapper card.

The new Snapper is a SmartMX JCOP (Java Card OpenPlatform) smartcard, powered by an NXP chip, with a huge 72k memory. For the uninitiated, 72k on a smartcard is an improvement by a factor of around 18 times more memory.

Using JCOP also means that we can add, change or even delete Java applications on the card which will keep cardholders up to date with the latest and greatest applications. Java is important for developers too as it’s a known and well-supported environment without some of the proprietary (ie restrictive) components of other smart card platforms.

It looks like the new card can hold multiple applications - including an implementation of the current (or "old") Wellington system which will ease transition or may even render it unnecessary for the time being - if I'm understanding this correctly, a new card could be set up with a T-Money based "application" for Wellington, a Thales "application" for Auckland/elsewhere, or both, and new cards would be able to be used in both cities although probably with separate balances for each city.

[EssJay]

Nice, in a way I'd be sad if Snapper completely disappeared, as the trail blazer it has shown NZ what can be done - like what I had in Tokyo using SUICA or Octopus in HK when visiting

[The King]

I noticed there was a new Snapper self serve kiosk today at the Wellington City Library.

This location isn't even listed on their website

[cbtadmin]

I received an email yesterday advising that my Snapper balance was low. I haven't used my Snapper since April 2010 in Wellington. Anyone else receive these emails?

[cbtadmin]

Ah, answered my own question.

http://www.snapper.co.nz/newsroom/2011/ ... urned-off/

Snapper low balance alerts have been temporarily turned off.

You may have received a low or zero balance email or text that is incorrect, due to a technical error. The balance on your card has not been affected and the money is still on your card.

"technical error"

[The King]

I first noticed yesterday on a 600 series bus that one of the two Snapper readers at the rear door was covered by one of those blue covers. I thought it was a faulty reader but today I noticed other buses with the same reader covered. They were mainly SL202s. Very strange.

Maybe they are preparing to allocate the readers to the new buses or maybe those buses are going to be sold soon?

[keg]

I first noticed yesterday on a 600 series bus that one of the two Snapper readers at the rear door was covered by one of those blue covers. I thought it was a faulty reader but today I noticed other buses with the same reader covered. They were mainly SL202s. Very strange.

Maybe they are preparing to allocate the readers to the new buses or maybe those buses are going to be sold soon?

Ive seen that too on a couple of 600 & 700 series buses but also on a couple of trolley buses. Wondering if there is a general shortage of spares (perhaps connected to the Hop/Snapper rollout up north) and a bit of juggling of failed readers is going on to ensure that there is at least one operational reader at the rear door.

[The King]

I'm beginning to think it is some sort of shortage with HOP starting up, the equipment looks identical apart from the branding.

Perhaps with patronage in Auckland so high, the older buses are being kept in service for longer so more readers are required than they initailly planned for. Or it could be just a shortage of readers or failing readers (hopefully not).

So the readers are being cut from Wellington down to 1 unit per door to meet the required readers in Auckland.

And Go Wellington is in the process of getting some buses from Christchurch into their fleet to replace the Coffins. So depending on if the Coffins are sent to Runcimans or not, the readers may have to be retained on these buses, therefore new readers required for the new buses.

[kaiwhara]

I don't know where the Coffins are going but I do know that the Snapper rquipment in them is being removed for installation in the 1500's (ex Redbus Man 17.223's)

[keg]

Cross posted from the Auckland forum:

Interesting comment over on AKT:

Miki Szikszai April 4, 2011 at 10:40 pm

@westiecommuter you can use the Hop/Snapper card everywhere on the Snapper network – 1000 buses, 2000 taxis and close to 500 retailers in Auckland and Wellington. More to come soon

Miki
CEO
Snapper

Wonder if that means my Snapper will work in Auckland as a Hop?

[Matt L]

Cross posted from the Auckland forum:

Interesting comment over on AKT:

Miki Szikszai April 4, 2011 at 10:40 pm

@westiecommuter you can use the Hop/Snapper card everywhere on the Snapper network – 1000 buses, 2000 taxis and close to 500 retailers in Auckland and Wellington. More to come soon

Miki
CEO
Snapper

Wonder if that means my Snapper will work in Auckland as a Hop?

My understanding is no it won't as the Hop cards have different software that allows them to work in both places while the old snapper cards don't.

[Andrew]

I believe by "Hop/Snapper card" Miki means the combined card that was launched yesterday, not the Hop card and the separate Snapper card.

[keg]

I believe by "Hop/Snapper card" Miki means the combined card that was launched yesterday, not the Hop card and the separate Snapper card.

Yes, but I believe that that is techinally identical to the newer Snappers (under the branding). It seems that it is due to a policy decision by AT - so much for national standards, interoperability, etc.

[keg]

Dom picks up on the Hop/Snapper issue:

New cards an alternative to Snapper
Last updated 15:46 11/04/2011

Wellingtonians could buy Hop smartcards instead of conventional Snapper cards if they want a payment card that will work on both Wellington and Auckland public transport, but it appears possible they may find existing Snapper cards will also work just fine.

Snapper Services, which manufactures both smartcards, said its Hop cards - unveiled by Auckland Transport last week - would be able to be used for payment anywhere that a Snapper card could, including on Wellington buses.

Hop cards will be accepted on buses owned by NZ Bus in Auckland within a few weeks, providing a 10 to 17 per cent discount on adult cash fares. They will later be accepted by other Auckland bus operators and on trains and ferries.

Auckland Transport spokeswoman Sharon Hunter insisted only Hop cards, and not other-branded Snapper cards that have already been issued in Wellington, would work on Auckland public transport. But Snapper Services chief executive Miki Szikszai was silent when asked to confirm that, later saying it was a question he "could not answer".

Mr Szikszai said it was a policy decision of Auckland Transport that non-Hop Snapper cards should not be accepted on Auckland public transport, rather than a technical limitation of Snapper cards themselves.
continues

This bollocks of cards being technically compatible but unusable due to a policy decision of a short sighted regional agency needs to stop. National standards should mean that any compliant card can be used with any compliant reader anywhere in the country. ITSO type interoperability is the way to go - get your act together NZTA.

[PBYCatalina]

Will just have to test my snapper next time Im in Auckland and see if it works. Sounds like people are being very cagey on this.

[pickle]

I successfully used my Wellington snapper at a FIX shop in Auckland to buy an ice cream today.

[The King]

I successfully used my Wellington snapper at a FIX shop in Auckland to buy an ice cream today.

Of course it was successful, Snapper has been in Auckland FIX stores long before HOP was launched

[Andrew]

From Twitter:

@Steffen_ It is AT's *policy* to not allow Snapper devices to be used on an Auckland bus. ^GSz

From the context of the conversation, 'devices' is the cards as well as the Snapper USB being asked about.

Apparently tho, you will be able to top up Hop cards with the Snapper Feeder.

Edit: interesting to see that AT can enforce a fare collection policy of sorts now.

[eurokiwi78]

Anybody know if any other operators are going to start accepting Snapper in Wellington, ie Mana/Newlands Coaches and if fare capping is going to happen?

Its a pain having to work out if buying a pass or paying by snapper is best before you commence your travels then if your plans change you could end up taking the more expensive option.

Snapper in Wellington seems to have dropped off the radar with the Hop thing in the news more lately.